Government increases IOF on private pension, currency exchange, and corporate credit
The Lula government decided to increase the Tax on Financial Transactions (IOF) on private pension plans (VGBL), on corporate credit, and also on currency exchange operations that affect companies and individuals.
With this, the expectation is to collect R$ 20.5 billion this year and R$ 41 billion next year. With the detailing of the impact on the IOF, the dollar, which had been falling after the announcement of a spending cut of R$ 31.3 billion in the budget, higher than the market expected, began to rise.
The Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, described the measure as a "small adjustment" and avoided linking the initiative to fiscal targets. However, the economic team predicts that the taxation of IOF will increase revenue and help reduce pressure on the Central Bank in conducting monetary policy, allowing for a reduction in the interest rate.
The measures will take effect from this Friday, the 23rd, except for the anticipation of payments to suppliers, the so-called "drawn risk" (read more below), which will start on June 1st.
The Secretary of the National Treasury, Rogério Ceron, stated that the measures also contribute to reducing exchange rate volatility, as they tax short-term loans (up to 365 days) made abroad more significantly.
"The set of these measures has a relevant impact and will generate credibility in meeting fiscal targets in 2025 and 2026, collaborates with the work of the Central Bank, and reduces uncertainty.
The entire announcement today, the logic of revenue and expenditure forecasting, all of this greatly aids the work of the Central Bank,” Ceron said.
Source: Estadão
"In short, the increase in IOF is not a fiscal tightening, it's just a 'small adjustment,' as the minister said — almost a tax affection. The bill, of course, falls on those who always pay: the taxpayer" (our emphasis)