Increase in ICMS on fuel is an obstacle to the transfer of the exemption from PIS and Cofins given last week by Bolsonaro

Even after the exemption from federal PIS and Cofins taxes decreed by President Jair Bolsonaro, 18 states and the Federal District will increase, as of this Monday (15/03), the reference price for the collection of ICMS on diesel oil. Also exempt from taxes two weeks ago, the gas cylinder will increase state taxes in 12 states and in the DF.

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Two weeks after the exemption, a liter of diesel was sold at Brazilian service stations at an average price of R$4,232, practically stable compared to the R$4,230 of the previous week, but 1,14% above the R$4,184 verified in the previous week. to the decree that zeroed the PIS/Cofins on the product.

In other words, the benefit of R$ 0,30 per liter of diesel with the exemption was annulled by the new readjustment by Petrobras in the refineries. Last week, it was R$ 0,15 per liter - and for the increase in the blend of biodiesel in the fuel sold at gas stations.

The increase in ICMS on fuel is charged on a reference price defined by the state finance departments every 15 days and appears as an obstacle to the transfer of the benefit announced last week by President Jair Bolsonaro.

In addition to diesel, PIS / Cofins were exempt on cooking gas, which would guarantee a discount of R$ 2,80 per cylinder. Even so, the average price of the cylinder rose 2,3% last week, according to the ANP, to R$ 83,34. Since the federal tax exemption, the accumulated high is 3,3%.

Bolsonaro sends to Congress a bill to change ICMS collection

The states defend themselves by saying that the reference price, known as PMPF (weighted average price to the final consumer), is calculated based on a survey of the sale price at gas stations. Thus, any increases or cuts would respond to market fluctuations. The model is questioned by Bolsonaro, who a month ago sent Congress a bill to change ICMS charging, creating a fixed rate in reais.

Bolsonaro argues that the current system feeds back the rise in prices, since the tax rises when the price is high, causing new transfers to pumps. The Government's proposal has support from the fuel sector, but faces resistance from the states that allege loss of tax management capacity.

Confaz (National Council for Finance Policy) informs that only Bahia, Ceará, Maranhão, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Pará and Pernambuco will keep the PMPF unchanged in the second half of March. No state has decided to follow the federal government and reduce the tax.

Confaz's act on the PMPF shows that, in addition to the Federal District, the following will increase the tax: Acre, Alagoas, Amazonas, Amapá, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Paraíba, Piauí, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rondônia, Roraima , Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Sergipe, São Paulo and Tocantins.

According to ANP, the liter of gasoline was sold in the country at an average price of R$ 5,492 last week, up 3,8% compared to the previous week. The product has already undergone six readjustments at Petrobras refineries in 2021 and was the main pressure factor in the acceleration of the IPCA, which closed February at 0,86%.