Congress approved tax amnesty for large debtors

The Plenary Session of Congress approved with 104 votes – and the approval of legislators from the left and right – an opinion that establishes an exceptional Income Tax regime that forgives debts carried over to December 31, 2022.

According to PL 07536/2023.CR, presented by Heidy Juárez ( Podemos Peru), the aim is to promote the formalization of the economy and the expansion of the tax base of taxpayers; To this end, natural persons, undivided estates and marital partnerships that have not declared their income may benefit from lower rates: 10% and 7%, in the latter case, if the money is repatriated.

Even if the debt is paid from abroad, it gives rise to investments in the Peruvian market “at a preferential rate” in favor of “greater tax revenue,” according to Juárez.

Once accepted under the exceptional regime, all tax obligations will be understood to have been fulfilled. “Sunat will not be able to determine tax liability linked to said income related to income tax, nor determine infractions or apply sanctions, nor charge late payment interest,” states the opinion approved in the first vote and exonerated from the second.

Amnesty at all costs

The project is an amnesty that allows “laundering” undeclared income, in the opinion of Fernando Loayza, a Yale professor specializing in taxes, who remembers that in 2017, former president Pedro Pablo Kuczynski opted for a similar figure that only helped the richest. “who have millions in tax havens.”

“Instead of demanding payment of taxes, fines and interest for evading taxes, the State will amnesty evaders in exchange for a reduced payment (…) and will free them from criminal responsibilities, including tax, accounting and customs crimes and money laundering. of associated money. The evaders will be clean,” he said in X.