Tax to tax purchases on sites like Shein and Shopee exists since 1999 – 03/31/2023 – Market

It is a misleading post made by a PL state deputy who uses the video of an interview with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) to claim that the government would have implemented a 50% tax on imported products in international marketplaces, such as Shein and Shopee. in the value of the commodity.

Imports made by individuals are, since 1999, taxed at 60% of the value of the shipment (including freight). The inspection of the collection of these taxes is the responsibility of the Federal Revenue Service and is carried out by sampling.

The deputy’s publication, verified by the Comprova Project, uses the current discussion about a possible change in the tax regime for imported products to deceive the reader. The proposed change in the form of taxation of international online purchases has not yet been presented by the federal government, as confirmed by the Ministry of Finance. “The issue is being addressed, but so far no legal instrument has been defined for dealing with these products,” said the folder.

In addition, after being presented by the federal government, it will still be necessary for the proposal to be approved in the House and Senate to become law.

Misleading, for Comprova, is all content removed from the original context and used in another so that its meaning undergoes changes; that uses inaccurate data or that induces an interpretation different from the author’s intention; content that is confusing, with or without the deliberate intent to cause harm.

Reach

Comprova investigates suspicious content with greater reach on social networks. Until March 30, the publication had 578.3 thousand views on Twitter. On Instagram, there were 53.2 thousand likes and 6.9 thousand comments until that same date.

How do we check

First, we tried to find the complete video in which President Lula makes the statement that appears in the verified content. It was found on YouTube by Brasil247, who did a live interview with the head of the federal executive on March 21. Then, searching for some keywords in the automatic transcription generated by YouTube, it was possible to find the edited excerpts to form the video published in the piece of disinformation.

We also contacted the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Revenue Service to inquire about a possible change in the way products are taxed and how it is currently done. Finally, contact was made with the deputy who made the publication.

The interview

The video published by the deputy is the result of joining two excerpts from a live interview given by President Lula to the Brasil247 website, which was broadcast on YouTube and on TV Brasil.

The first stretch used in the disinformation piece starts at 1 hour and 27 minutes into the interview video and the second starts at 1 hour and 35 minutes.

The two statements, although eight minutes apart, have a similar context. In both, the president shows a desire to strengthen the industry in the country again, citing the automobile industry as an example.

“The concrete fact is that the country is disappearing from the point of view of industrial growth. A service sector is growing and imports of products that do not pay any taxes in this country are growing”, he said, after mentioning the departure of Ford from Brazil and the collective holidays granted by Mercedes.

At another point, he talks again about automakers and the issue of tax-free imports, mainly from China.

“I want to call the auto industry to talk. What is happening with you? What is happening with other sectors of the economy? I want an extraordinary relationship with the Chinese, the best possible, but we cannot accept that people are selling here things without paying income tax.”

Taxation of imported products

Currently, taxation of products imported by individuals is done by the Federal Revenue Service based on the RTS (Simplified Taxation Regime) and regulated by Ordinance No. 156/1999 of the Ministry of Finance. There is no specific determination for products coming from China and/or purchased on marketplaces, such as Shein or Shopee.

According to current regulations, individuals can import products with a total value of up to US$ 3,000 or the equivalent in another currency. In these cases, the RTS stipulates the payment of Import Tax with the application of a single rate of 60% of the customs value, including the price of the product and any freight and insurance fees.

The Tax Authority also informs that “imports carried out through the RTS are subject to ICMS (Tax on Circulation of Goods and Provision of Services), according to the legislation of each State, being charged by the Post Office or courier companies”.

To the report, the Federal Revenue also clarified that individuals who buy packages from abroad worth up to US$ 50.00 or the equivalent in another currency are exempt from Import Tax.

However, when a sale takes place, even if the two parties are natural persons, the selling party is considered to be acting as a legal entity. This way, the package is also taxable.

New model

Despite not having any changes to the norm so far, the Ministry of Finance confirmed to Comprova that taxation of international purchases on online retail platforms, such as Shein and Shopee, is an issue that “is being addressed”.

Currently, the government’s economic team is in favor of reforming the tax system in Brazil, and matters on the subject are being discussed in the National Congress. Initially, a reform on consumption is discussed.

According to the newspaper Estadão, the taxation of imported products on foreign online retail platforms, such as Shein and Shopee, can be included in the texts under discussion in the Brazilian Legislative.

Changing the tax legislation in these cases is even demanded by entities representing the sector, such as the FPE (Parliamentary Front for Entrepreneurship). To Estadão, for example, the president of the FPE, deputy Marco Bertaiolli (PSD-SP), said that the competition between Chinese marketplaces and national companies “is unfair”.

The Ministry of Finance defends the unification of 5 taxes: IPI (Tax on Industrialized Products); PIS (Social Integration Program); Cofins (Contribution for the Financing of Social Security); ICMS; and ISS (Tax on Services).

IPI, PIS and Cofins are federal taxes. ICMS is state and ISS is municipal. With the unification, the reform will opt for a IVA (Value Added Tax), which is not cumulative and has a single rate. According to the proposal, it will be called IBS (Tax on Goods and Services).

What the person responsible for the publication says: On March 30, Comprova contacted state deputy Bruno Engler (PL-MG) by email and phone call to question him about the publication. However, there was no response until the closing of this verification. The space remains open.

What can we learn from this check

An actual interview of the president was used to support a disinformation post. The authors of the misleading content edited Lula’s speeches (about a possible change in the taxation of products imported from China) and linked the statements with untrue information (that the current government had already changed the tax rule).

To avoid believing and/or sharing misleading content, always try to listen, read or watch the original content in its entirety. Be wary of videos in which it is possible to perceive a “dry cut”, that is, when the lines are interrupted abruptly. This could be indicative of manipulation of the actual statement.

why do we investigate

Comprova monitors suspicious content published on social networks and messaging apps about public policies and elections at the federal level and opens investigations for those publications that have achieved greater reach and engagement. You can also suggest checks via WhatsApp +55 11 97045-4984. Suggestions and questions related to questionable content can also be sent to Sheet via WhatsApp 11 99486-0293.

Other checks on the topic

Comprova has already investigated other content shared on social networks that deal with Lula’s economic agenda, such as a possible PIX taxation. Decontextualized speeches by the current president were also investigated, such as the video edited to appear that the PT supporter defends the closure of churches.