Culture voucher should be valid starting in September.

Daniel Mello
Reporter from Agência Brasil
São Paulo – The culture voucher should come into effect from September, said the Minister of Culture, Marta Suplicy, last night (15), when explaining the operation of the voucher at the Federation of Industries of São Paulo (Fiesp). She informed that she asked the Ministry of Finance to include in the tax incentives granted by the program the companies that collect Income Tax based on presumed or simplified profit, but she was not heard. According to the minister, the rule was maintained that companies that collect based on actual profit, a model used by large companies, can deduct the amount spent on the culture voucher, up to 1% of the tax due.

“I would very much like a bakery or a hair salon to be able to give [the culture voucher] to its employees. The Treasury Department did not allow tax incentives for presumed profit and simplified tax regimes at this time,” she emphasized. However, the amount spent on the voucher will not be taxed as salary, which, according to Marta, may facilitate adoption even among smaller companies.

The president of Fiesp, Paulo Skaf, said that perhaps even with the discount, some companies will not be interested in joining the program. "Those on the 'real profit' tax regime aren't making much profit," he stated. However, according to the minister, companies can start participating in the program by granting the benefit to a portion of their lower-paid employees and expanding it as much as possible. "Instead of starting with those who earn up to five minimum wages, start with those who earn up to two [minimum wages]," she exemplified.

According to Marta, the government is prepared for a tax waiver of up to R$ 300 million this year. However, she stressed that she is not sure if the program will use all the resources in the first few months of operation. "We are implementing a completely new program, which people don't yet know how it works, and companies will have to think about whether they want to participate or not," she said.

According to Marta, an opinion poll conducted by the ministry indicated that most of the 18,8 million workers who could benefit intend to use the voucher to go to the theater. "The ultimate dream is to go to the theater," she stated. She added that the benefit will be granted through a magnetic card that can be used in establishments that primarily sell cultural products, including newsstands.

The law creating the voucher, worth R$ 50 per month, for workers earning up to five minimum wages was enacted at the end of 2012. Now, only a presidential decree and a ministerial ordinance are needed to regulate the benefit's operation. A television advertisement has also been produced to promote the voucher and encourage companies to join the program.

Editing: Aécio Amado