Government publishes PM releasing tablets
Valor Econômico
The Federal Government published yesterday the Provisory Measure (PM) that includes the tablets in the laws to incentive to the computer manufacturing in the country. The PM #534 - which includes tablets in Law #11,196, known as "Lei do Bem", or "Law of Good", and also in the Computer Law classifies the equipment as "portable, keyboardless, automatic data processing machines, with a central processing unit with input and output of data by means of a touchscreen display larger than 140 square centimeters". The size specified represents a piece of equipment with a screen larger than six inches.
With the measure, the Government reduces 31% the tax burden on the tablets, cutting the Excise Tax (IPI), PIS/Cofins (Social Integration Program / additional mandatory contribution to the financing of social security) and Import Tax. The PM also establishes that the invoices issued by manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, regarding the sale of the devices should bear the words "product made according to the basic production process". Last week, the Minister of Communications, Paulo Bernardo, stated the expectation of the Government is that the incentives reduce 36% the price of the tablets in the country. According to the Minister of Science and Technology, Aloízio Mercadante, 12 companies have shown interest in producing locally.
The Minister of Finance, Guido Mantega, assesses the manufacture of such devices will be made by technology companies already installed in the country and also by foreign companies interested in getting installed here. "With the reduction in the tax burden, the cost of the tablets in Brazil is equal to cost abroad and that makes the country attractive for the manufacturing of such equipment. And since we have a large market, it is convenient for the companies to get installed here. This way we will attract and encourage the companies already operating here", said Mantega.
The Minister of Finance reduced the taxes and published the PM including tablets in Law #11,196, but the final reduction in the tax burden will only occur in the coming days. The final tax release will be completed only after the Federal Revenue publishes the regulatory instructions specifying how much the tax was reduced and when the measure will go into force. For the companies to start producing, it is also required an inter-ministerial ordinance, which will create the PPB (Basic Productive Process) and define the criteria for the granting of the tax benefits. The material was under public consultation until Friday and the contributions are being examined by the Ministries of Science and Technology and of Development, Industry and Trade. The publication of the PPB still has no specific date to happen.
According to Mercadante, the text defines the companies should begin the production with 20% of the components made in Brazil. With time, the nationalization content shall increase to 80%. The granting of the full tax benefit will be subject to the level of national content, which is one of the requirements for the reduction of the IPI. According to the Minister, the percentage of national content includes the local manufacturing of items such as semiconductors and displays, parts that are currently imported. Last year, the trade balance of the electronics industry featured a deficit of US$ 11 billion because of the import of components.