Ahead of Presidential polls, Argentina parliament passes bill to abolish income taxes; know why Only those workers earning the equivalent of 15 federal minimum wages, amounting to 1.77 million pesos per month ($5,057), will continue to be subject to income taxes, constituting a minority of the workforce FP Staff Last Updated:September 29, 2023
Argentina’s parliament has passed a bill aimed at abolishing income taxes for nearly all formal workers, a move strongly backed by economy minister Sergio Massa, who is aiming for the Presdent’s post in October elcetions.
The move is expected to exert additional pressure on the country’s burgeoning fiscal deficit, which has been a driving force behind the alarming 124 per cent inflation rate in the lead-up to October’s presidential elections.
The bill, which was endorsed by a Senate vote of 38-27 late on Thursday, received strong support from Massa. Massa’s political coalition had secured a third-place finish in the primary vote held in August. President Alberto Fernandez is anticipated to sign the bill into law, with the upcoming elections scheduled for 22 October.
While Massa had previously issued temporary decrees exempting 99 per cent of salaried payroll workers from income taxes, this new legislation will institute a permanent removal of income taxes. Only those workers earning the equivalent of 15 federal minimum wages, amounting to 1.77 million pesos per month ($5,057), will continue to be subject to income taxes, constituting a minority of the workforce. However, it is important to note that a new government will assume office on 10 December, potentially leading to a reversal of this measure.
In conjunction with his tax reduction efforts, Massa is striving to regain lost electoral ground through substantial expenditure. His initiatives include providing financial support to millions of informal workers, augmenting social security benefits, and increasing salaries for public sector employees. Economists estimate that these measures will incur a cost of 2 trillion pesos ($5.7 billion), primarily financed through central bank money printing, a move that could exacerbate future inflation.
The important bit is this:
Basically trying to hold on to power in any way possible. Primary elections were very unfavorable to the usual parties (the one currently in government and the one that was in power before and are acting more like a branch of the first one lately) and a guy that has some economic sense but also is a bit crazy a la trump for Argentina standards (you can find a lot of speeches and ramblings with him screaming, leans against abortion while spreading a freedom message, is pro gun carrying) is the one on the lead, so the other 2 parties are running a campaign on (a) throwing money at the population (below inflation interest loans, straight up grants, this "removal" of taxes, etc) and (b) scaring people (they go into peoples homes, colleges or train stations explaining how the guys that is on the lead is going to destroy everything, Big % of the TV news cycle is bashing on the guy on the lead).
This move is part of that.
Ah, one more piece of context, Massa is basically an acting president at this point with the low power the real president currently has plus the powers and support Massa has. This makes his "I'm going to make everything all right when I'm president" message a lot weaker than he intends to.