Influencers will explain purchase tribute via website – 04/12/2023 – Market

The government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) acted this Wednesday (12) to contain the wear and tear caused by the announcement of the end of the import tax exemption for orders of up to US$ 50 (R$ 250) sent by people physical and also intended for natural persons.

Government members point out that there was a failure in communication, which distorted the official message and opened a gap for the version that Lula’s team was taxing online purchases.

Therefore, there was a strategy to reverse the narrative, with posts on social networks and also mobilizing influencers.

The Lula government confirmed this week that it will act to stop the so-called “digital smuggling”, by putting an end to the exemption of import taxes for packages sent by individuals to individuals. The economic team estimates raising up to BRL 8 billion closing the siege to international retail platforms.

The purpose of the measure is to bar the use of this exemption by e-commerce companies that defraud the import process and improperly place the names of individuals as senders.

According to the Federal Revenue, the rules no longer allow exemption for purchases of products from companies and, therefore, what is being sought is the effective payment of the due tax.

There will no longer be any distinction in treatment for remittances by legal entities and individuals – which today would serve only for generalized fraud, according to the government. The measure affects consumers of virtual stores such as Shein, Shopee and AliExpress, which are very popular among Brazilians.

Remittances actually made by individuals to individuals, which will also be taxed from now on and would increase the cost of those who carry out this transaction, represent an inexpressive universe, according to the Revenue —according to the agency, in most imports, the exemption only benefited fraudsters.

The government, however, began to suffer great wear and tear with the dissemination of messages that it would be taxing online purchases in general. Opponents of the government, such as Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ), took the opportunity to attack the government,

The assessment of the Planalto Palace is that there was a failure in communication, in a delicate subject that should be better worked on by the government’s communication. Interlocutors claim that even the use of the term “digital contraband” was harmful and offensive to the population that made purchases on international websites.

That is why there was an offensive, especially on social networks, to try to reverse the narrative and make it clear that this was not a new tax. The government initially released some cards to try to better explain the issue.

One of the people who acted to try to reverse the narrative was first lady Rosângela Lula da Silva, Janja, who is traveling to China and responded online to a news item on the subject.

“Friend, this article is totally wrong. I’m here on the plane with Minister Haddad who explained this taxation story to me in detail. It’s about combating tax evasion by companies and not taxing people who buy,” wrote the first lady.

“The taxation is for companies and not for consumers”, he added.

Left-wing influencers also published several messages on social networks seeking to defend the government and clarify the matter. The influencer Felipe Neto posted a sequence of messages on Twitter trying to explain that it was not a new rate.

“If you saw that the government is going to tax Shopee, Shein and AliExpress, know: They are lying to you on purpose. Every purchase made on these sites IS ALREADY taxed by up to 60%. However, some companies are committing FRAUD to escape payment of taxes”, wrote Felipe Neto, in the first of his messages.

wanted by Sheet, the influencer stated through his press office that he was not one of the influencers mobilized by the government. He adds that there was no contact by Lula’s team and that “the opinions are his own. Until today he has not made any post at the request of the government”.