The tax on the “excess profits” of energy giants introduced in March by Italy to support families and companies in the face of rising prices has so far collected only 2.7 billion euros, Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti announced Wednesday.
At the end of November, the tax collection generated by this system “ascended to approximately 2,750 million euros”, an amount “according to the updated estimates of the Government”, he declared before Parliament. However, this sum is significantly lower than the income of more than 10,000 million euros initially foreseen by the previous government of Mario Draghi. Many companies, which questioned the tax calculation method, refused to pay.
If the deadline was set for November 30, the energy groups will still be able to make their payments until Thursday “without incurring a fine,” Giorgetti told the leadership of the refractories. Mario Draghi’s government had introduced a 25% tax on the “extra” income of energy companies that have benefited from rising gas and electricity prices. This tax was levied on payments subject to VAT.
7000 companies affected
In its 2023 draft budget, the current government of Giorgia Meloni foresees a tax collection of 2,600 million euros thanks to a new tax system for energy producers and distributors that is more focused on profits. The new system provides for a 50% rate on the part of business profits in 2022 that is at least 10% higher than the average of the declared profits of the previous four years. Some 7,000 companies are affected by this temporary measure.
This tax is in line with the recommendations of the European Commission, which announced at the end of September that it wanted to claim a “temporary solidarity contribution” from gas, coal and oil producers and distributors.
Source: BFM TV
