
The Federal Revenue identified at least 386 taxpayers in the fuel sector in Minas Gerais with evidence of irregular PIS/Cofins refund requests, a practice that constitutes unfair competition and causes losses to public coffers, with a national estimate of R$5 billion.
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The Federal Revenue Service carries out a national investigation to check whether establishments are unduly declaring the payment of PIS and Cofins, taxes that in the fuel sector are initially collected by refineries and importers.
An audit by the Federal Revenue Service identified at least 386 taxpayers in the fuel sector with evidence of irregular tax refund requests in Minas Gerais. The notified companies are spread across almost 170 municipalities in the state.
The inspection is part of an investigation carried out across the country to check whether establishments are unduly declaring the payment of two taxes: the Contribution to PIS/Pasep (PIS) and the Contribution to Social Security Financing (Cofins).
According to the IRS, in the fuel sector, these taxes are collected at the beginning of the chain, that is, by refineries and importers.
However, the audit identified stations declaring that they also collected PIS/Cofins, with the aim of receiving back amounts that they did not pay or using credits to pay other taxes.
In addition to causing losses to public coffers, the practice constitutes unfair competition (read more below).
Unfair competition
According to the Federal Revenue, the practice can create unfair competition between positions. This happens because a company that pays less taxes irregularly may be able to offer fuel at lower prices.
"He ends up being able to offer a lower price for fuel compared to another businessman, to another taxpayer who pays his taxes on time", explained deputy superintendent and tax auditor Viviane Lopes.
To date, 95% of requests analyzed by auditors in Minas have shown irregularities. The national estimate related to this type of practice reaches R$5 billion.
"The losses to public coffers are enormous, and this ends up interfering in several sectors, including the allocation of these resources to society", added Lopes.
Also according to the IRS, taxpayers with signs of undue information have the possibility of self-regulating. If this does not occur, they may be subject to tax proceedings and be subject to the collection of taxes, fines and other penalties.
Revenue investigates irregular tax refund requests from gas stations in MG — Photo: Reproduction/TV Globo
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