Friday, 02 July 2021 13:33

Treasury filed new cases of alleged tax evasion for more than US$1.8 million

Written by Alondra Gutiérrez

The minister of Finance, Alejandro Zelaya, presented 7 new notices for alleged tax evasion before the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR).

The 7 new notices presented by the Minister of Finance are the result of the "Anti-evasion Plan" which are now integrated with notices resulting from the "Anti-smuggling Plan".

"These funds that we are recovering are used to continue building schools, remodeling hospitals, reinforcing the " Plan Control Territorial ", reactivating our economy and providing tax justice to the salvadoran population", said Alejandro Zelaya, minister of Finance.

  • Retail sale of jewelry and optics
  • Wholesale of agricultural and industrial spare parts
  • Wholesale of medicinal products
  • Cleaning services company
  • Sale of telecommunications equipment
  • Service of electrical systems
  • Real estate activities.

The head of the Treasury Department pointed out that the most significant case, of the 7, refers to a company for alleged VAT evasion for US$1.2 million. He also said that there are five additional cases of taxpayers who withheld income tax from their employees and did not report it to the Ministry of Finance, among them a Mayor's Office in the eastern part of the country.

A notice corresponds to the alleged smuggling of goods, a total of 22 foreign trade operations in which the company simulated imports to goods warehouses, with the purpose of not paying taxes.

The minister also informed that the total number of notices filed amounts to 105 for US$92 million.

"The 105 notices filed up to this day amount to US$92 million. Now we have a new Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) that works in a coordinated manner and understands the importance of returning these stolen funds to the State, in order to continue investing them in the population", said the minister of Finance.

He also addressed the issue of the increase in the minimum wage, which was announced by the President of the Republic.

"We know that micro and small enterprises (MYPES) could have complications to finance the increase. The Government, through #FIREMPRESA, will grant a one-year subsidy for the amount allocated by companies in the increase to the minimum wage of their employees", he mentioned.

He said, that would be granting greater purchasing power to about 500 thousand wage earners nationwide, thus reaching 1.5 million families that will benefit from the increase to the minimum wage.

"The initiative to increase the minimum wage and subsidize micro and small enterprises (MYPES), announced by the President of the Republic, has a virtuous and circular effect on the salvadoran economy. This government is looking out for the welfare of its citizens", said the minister.

The minister mentioned that US$100 million will be invested for the Recuperación Económica de las Empresas Salvadoreñas (FIREMPRESA) for the subsidy that companies will allocate to the minimum wage increase, also the Banco de Desarrollo de El Salvador (BANDESAL), will make a schedule of disbursements corresponding to the additional payment made to employees.