A new tax on SIM cards could be included in the budget law. But denials come from the government. What’s true
For a couple of days now, rumors have been circulating that a new tax could be included in the next budget law: the tax on newly activated SIM cards. The hypothesis has already triggered a lot of contrary reactions and, at the moment, it is not at all confirmed.
To say no to the hypothetical new tax on SIM cards are not only political exponents, both of the opposition and of the same government majority, but also several unions of the communication sector. According to Vito Vitale, Secretary General of Fistel Cisl, such a tax would be detrimental to both small and medium-large companies. For Fabrizio Solari, secretary of Slc Cgil, such a tax could slow down the economic development of the country. Even the current Deputy Minister of Economy, Laura Castelli, has rejected the tax without ifs and buts. Both the M5S and the PD have officially denied their support to such a tax.
SIM tax: who should pay
The hypothesis circulated in recent hours is already quite detailed: it already provides who and how much will have to pay, in addition to the total revenue expected for the coffers of the State. In fact, there is talk of a tax only for new activations, only business and only rechargeable SIMs. A tax of 13 euros, which could bring revenues up to 250 million euros per year.
The hypothesis of the abolition of TCG
In the face of an increase of 13 euros for each new SIM business sold, could also arrive the abolition of the Government Concession Tax (TCG). This is a tax of 12.90 euros for business users and 5.16 for individuals, which dates back to 1995 and whose abolition has been announced several times in the past. In reality, however, this tax relates to subscriptions and not to rechargeable SIM cards.
Who proposed the tax on SIM cards?
If everyone says they don’t want the tax on new business SIM cards, there remains a fundamental doubt: who made this proposal? The rumors circulating in these hours speak of a four-way summit between the Minister of Economy Roberto Gualtieri, the President of the Council of Ministers Giuseppe Conte, the undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council Riccardo Fraccaro and the vice-minister Castelli. The proposal of the new tax would have emerged during this meeting. However, the Ministry has denied that such a summit ever took place.