During the launch of the new real estate credit model, this Friday (10), in São Paulo, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized Congress’s resistance to approving taxation measures on the richest, fintechs and sports betting companies.
Without naming names, Lula stated that there are parliamentarians who vote against the taxation of large incomes and the digital betting sector to protect the interests of economic elites.
“We send a bill so that those who earn more than R$600,000, those who earn more than R$1 million, fintechs and bets pay a little more — and they vote against it,” he said. “They prefer to protect the top floor, the top floor of our country.”
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The president defended that the new tax system, under discussion in Congress, is essential to correct historical distortions and finance public policies aimed at low-income families.
According to him, the country is still marked by a structure in which “90% of the population earns up to R$5,000 per month”, while large fortunes and digital companies remain undertaxed.
“This money could be used to expand social inclusion policies, to guarantee Bolsa Família, Pé-de-Meia, gas vouchers, a reduction in electricity bills,” he stated. “But they prefer to vote against, because they think the State should not help the poorest.”
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Tax justice
Lula reinforced that the income tax reform, currently in progress, seeks to guarantee progressivity in the system — in which those who earn more pay proportionally more taxes. The measure would also include the taxation of exclusive funds, profits abroad and digital platforms that move large amounts without contributing in an equivalent way.
“For decades, Brazil created its own tax havens within the economy, protecting closed funds and family fortunes. This will end. The tax needs to be fair, and the poor must be in the Union’s budget”, he declared.
Bet taxation
The president cited the need to regulate and tax the sports betting and online gaming sector, which generates billions of reais in the country. The betting regulations, approved in 2023 and still in the implementation phase, provide for the collection of tax on company profits and on prizes above R$2,112.
“There are digital companies that make profits in Brazil, operate in Brazil, use the Brazilian people, but pay taxes abroad. This is unfair. Brazil cannot be a tax haven for bets or anyone else,” said Lula.
Political dispute
The president admitted that there is political resistance to the changes and criticized what he called the “distrust industry” against the government. “There is an industry that creates distrust in society. There is a lack of news about growth and plenty of news about tax tests”, he joked.
Lula ended his speech by reaffirming his commitment to moving forward with structural reforms. “The country needs a chance. We cannot grow and fall, grow and fall. And that will only be possible if we put the poor in the budget and the rich in Income Tax.”
