Head of SUNAT speaks in international discussion on mechanisms for fighting tax fraud: “Fight against evasion and avoidance is a priority for Peru because of the fiscal damage it causes to economic growth”

“The fight against international evasion and avoidance mechanisms has become a priority for the National Superintendence of Customs and Tax Administration (SUNAT), due to the global dimensions it reaches and the damage it causes to the public finances of the emerging economies, such as the Peruvian”.

So speaks the head of SUNAT, Martin Ramos, during the “Exchange on International mechanisms to fight against tax evasion and avoidance”. This event takes place in Lima with the support of the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information in Tax Matters of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Inter-American Center of tax administration (CIAT) and the World Bank (WB).

Studies conducted by the OECD estimate that as result of the use of the mechanisms for evasion and avoidance, between 100 thousand and $ 240 billion a year escape taxation around the world, decreasing the possibility of offering better public services and increasing inequality in the countries in the process of development, such as Peru.

In fact, developing economies, such as the Peruvian, lose some 90 billion dollars annually due to the use of these illegal mechanisms.

The National Superintendent also referred to a report prepared by ECLAC in 2014, précising that evasion and avoidance in Latin America accounted for more than $ 190 billion in losses for our economies, i.e. 4% of the regional GDP in taxes on incomes of people and companies.

He also pointed out that transparency is one of the pillars to deal successfully with these mechanisms. He recalled that our country integrates, since October 2014, the Global Forum on Exchange of Information on Tax Matters of the OECD, summing 134 economies committed to abide by the policies, guidelines and agreed standards to fight against evasion and avoidance.

As part of these arrangements, both MEF and the SUNAT have participated in the deliberations of the Action Plan against Tax Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS), to incorporate its recommendations, such as the Multilateral Agreement on Automatic Exchange of information. However, these and other measures require some additional legislative steps to be taken by the country.

Enzo Defilippi, Vice-Minister of Economy, as well as Mónica Bhatia, Head of the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information of the OECD participated in the discussion group. Gonzalo Arias, CIAT Director of Cooperation and International taxation, Ana Cebreiro, senior economist of the International Taxation team of the World Bank and Representatives of the Judiciary and Professional Associations also participated, among others.

Source: SUNAT
Communications Management
Press release N°100-2016
Lima, Monday, June 27, 2016.