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10 January 2019 Brazil extends deadline for companies in north and northeastern regions to apply for tax incentives On 4 January 2019, Brazil enacted Law No. 13.799/2019, which extends the deadline from 31 December 2018 to 31 December 2023, for companies to apply for a 75% reduction in corporate income tax (IRPJ) and additional non-refundable amounts calculated on the basis of the “exploration profit” (operating profit). Had the original deadline (31 December 2018) not been extended, companies with new projects would not have been able to apply for the incentives, and companies with incentives for existing projects that were about to expire (incentives normally last for up to 10 years) would not have been able to renew them. The tax incentives apply to companies that are part of specific economic sectors, considered by the Executive Power as priorities for regional development, and located in the regions covered by SUDAM (Superintendence for Development of the Amazon – North Region) and SUDENE (Superintendence for Development of the Northeastern Region), with projects that fall under one or more of the following categories: implementation, expansion, modernization and diversification. Bill No. 10.160/2018, approved by the Senate on 11 December 2018, was partially vetoed and partially enacted as Law No. 13.799/2019. The original bill, approved by Congress, extended the current benefits applied to the regions under SUDAM and SUDENE administration to the States of Goias and Mato Grosso do Sul under SUDECO (Superintendence of Development of the Center Western Region) administration. The President signed the bill but vetoed the extension of these benefits. Despite the veto, Law No. 13.799/2019 made investments in the north and northeastern regions of Brazil more attractive by allowing companies to use up to 50% of the amount deposited as reinvestment in working capital. Until 31 December 2018, the total amount deposited as reinvestment could only be used to purchase new machinery or equipment used in the production process. The Law also incorporated paragraph 4 of Article 19 of Law No. 8.167 of 6 January 1991, which was effective until 31 December 2018. Paragraph 4 states:
The President also approved Decree 9,682, dated 4 January 2019, dealing with the approval process for companies to benefit from the tax incentives. Under the decree, the approval of the tax incentive is conditioned on the revenue waiver limit established in the Statement of Tax Expenses (DGT) by the Federal Revenue Services and included in 2019’s Budget Directive Law (LDO). Currently, the revenue waiver is 4.12% of GDP and, according to the commitment in the recently approved LDO, the waiver will be reduced to 2% in 10 years. Considering that the tax incentives granted by SUDAM and SUDENE are to be considered when evaluating the percentage of waiver amounts, the granting or renewing of SUDAM and SUDENE incentives may become more difficult due to the Government’s need to reduce revenue waivers. Accordingly, companies with projects in these regions should evaluate the need to apply for or renew their incentives and properly prepare their case files, in order to secure a speedier and steady approval process. Ernst & Young Serviços Tributários SP Ltda, São Paulo
Ernst & Young Serviços Tributários SP Ltda, Recife
Ernst & Young LLP, Latin American Business Center, New York
Ernst & Young LLP (United Kingdom), Brazilian Tax Desk Leader, London
Ernst & Young LLP (United Kingdom), Latin American Business Center, London
Ernst & Young Tax Co., Latin American Business Center, Japan & Asia Pacific
Document ID: 2019-5048 |
