Revenue is down in Panama so far this year

According to the General Directorate of Revenue study, $1,908.3 million of current income was received in cash between January and April, $363.7 million less than what was included in the budget for this period.

Meanwhile, the 2023 collection represents a decrease of $295.9 million, or 13.4 percent, from the same point in the previous year.

Although tax revenue (83 per cent) represents the majority of central government revenue, in the first four-month period it represented $1,575.9 million, a figure lower than the previous year and what was budgeted.

For DGI’s director, Publio de Gracia, the main reason for the fall is due to the extension until January 13, 2023 of the term for the cancellation of tax liabilities, a measure approved at the beginning of the year through a settlement process.

De Gracia also told La Prensa that the economy is growing and so they face the challenge of closing the income gap, in exercise with the ambitious goal of current income of $10.9 million, of which $6.5 million will be tax.

He said that among the measures that could help improve collection is the application of the electronic billing system, which at the beginning of May had 37,500 users.

For lawyer Javier Mitri, the implementation of the electronic invoice should translate into an increase in revenue collection, as has happened in other countries that have adopted this measure.

However, he warned that the collection is usually curtailed in the pre-election years, in an environment of less pressure from the tax authorities and the expectation of the result in the ballot by taxpayers, which is added to the economic recovery after the Covid-19 crisis.

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