“Blouses rate”: 10 states raising ICM from 17 % to 20 % from Tuesday | economy

From Tuesday, April 1, ten states began to impose a larger trading tax (ICMS) to buy online importers. The average will go from 17 % to 20 % in the states of Acre, Alagais, Bahia, CEARK, Minas Gerais, Paraíba, Piauí, Rio Grande Do Norte, Roraima, Sergipe and Reach Racts on international digital platforms.

“The procedure worries and that the decision will increase the total tax burden to at least 50 %.

The increase in ICMS is not a new decision: it was taken after a meeting of the National Financial, Finance, Revenue, or Tax Committee on states and the federal region (Comcefaz) on December 5 last year.

This measure affects products that reach the country through postal transfers and decreases under the Simple tax system (RTS).

According to the commefaz statement issued last year, the purpose of raising the rate is “the alignment of tax transaction applied to imports on those practiced in the local market, which creates more balanced conditions for local production and trade.”

“The goal is to ensure competitive equality between imported and patriotic products, and to promote the consumption of goods produced in Brazil,” says the text issued by Comcefaz at the time. “However, countries intend to stimulate the strengthening of the internal productive sector and expanding job generation, in the context of increasing competition with trade platforms via E.”

Currently average average at 17 %. It was created in June 2023, amid the establishment of the transfers program, which was launched by the Tax Authority to combat tax evasion in foreign e -commerce platform transactions.

The reason for only a few countries to impose fees on 20 % is that the change depends on the support of legislative societies for each state.

How RTS affects the price of “blouses”

The Simple Tax System (RTS) is a tax system for imports that do not exceed the total amount (including product costs, shipping and insurance) 3000 USD, and applies to both individuals and legal entities, according to the tax department.

It is allowed to impose taxes on import tax, with exemption from some taxes, such as the IPI tax, which is suitable for international air orders, provided that they meet the requirements and criteria of revenue.

These international purchases are under the RTS for ICMS, which have been applied until then at a rate of 17 %, regardless of whether or not the acquisition online platforms are approved by the referral program according to the tax authority or not.

The reason for affecting international purchases is that it is the basis for the import tax, “blouses rate”.

According to the rules, for the customs value elements of up to $ 50, the rate is 20 %, while the rate rises to 60 %, with a fixed discount of $ 20 in the total amount of taxes.

According to Rodrigo Giraldelli, an import expert and executive head of China Gate, the most affected by the ICM increase is consumers of C, D and E seasons, who are the largest buyers of imported products at reasonable prices.

“This increase in ICM represents another challenge for Brazilian consumers who buy products from abroad. Since the tax is calculated” from the inside “, it is not only focused on the purchase value, but also on the import tax, which makes the effect larger. In practice, today costs $ 600, and currently comes compared to $ 1156 after the tax.

What companies say

On Monday, 31, the Brazilian Association of Mobility and Technology (Amobitec) sought concern about the increase in the ICMS tax rate. Amobitec, as well as combining transportation and applications such as Uber, Zé Devingy and Ifood, also has alibaba, Shein and Amazon, who sell imported products on their platforms. Uruguayan noocnoc, which provides solutions for the E -Transionic Transitionic competitor, is also a member.

According to the association, ICMS imposing 20 % will increase than the total tax burden to at least 50 %, and may reach 104 % given the occurrence of federal taxes stipulated in the referral program.

“As a result, there will be a tendency to reduce the size of international purchases and may avoid tax revenues. Consumers will also have an impact and will be subject to prices in the ten states that choose 20 % of ICMS,” says the association.

The Shopee and Tempu were also searched by the report, but they did not respond to the comments requests until the end of this text.