Negotiations continue in Congress regarding the passing of tax bills that would increase government revenues. The government will be soon reducing import taxes and needs to compensate for a reduction in income. Likewise, the government has said it needs more money to carry out its social programs and pay the high fuel bill. Latest results of the intense lobbying going on in the commission that is studying the bill have resulted in an increase in the exemption on tax levels on vehicles from US$7,000 to US$10,000. This would mean a tax exemption on the purchase of utilitarian cars of about 15%. So far the package means a 1.5% tax advance on gross sales, an increase in taxes on beer to 25% and rum to 30%, an increase in the ITBIS, a sort of sales tax, from 8 to 12%. In yesterday’s meeting, a proposal to establish a 2% tax on credit card usage was also proposed in the Senate commission studying the bills.
