Lubango - The Commercial and Industrial Agricultural Association (AAPCIL) is pleading for a tax pardon, to avoid the closure of 90 percent of companies with debts to the General Tax Administration (AGT) and that are close to declaring bankruptcy, given the high tax burden.
According to its president, Paulo Gaspar, who was speaking at a meeting promoted by the Government of Huíla, between the business class and AGT, he said that the 'high' interest rates applied by AGT are putting companies in a situation of economic constrains.
He pointed out that the closure of these companies could condition the implementation of various actions aimed at the economic growth of the province and the region, hence the importance of a tax forgiveness.
'Many of us really can't pay, because they are debts from 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, when the economic situation was different, but today I assure you that 99 percent of the entrepreneurs in Huíla, Namibe and Cunene, are technically bankrupt and are not able to pay these fines,' he lamented.
According to the official, there are still many problems of interpretation between the business class with its lawyers and AGT technicians, each in their own way.
In turn, the delegate of the fifth Tax Region, Milton Costa, made it known that the AGT is not oblivious to the situation of taxpayers in that region and although there is a record of several with an irregular situation, it did not go directly to a mass seizure process.
He explained that before that, the AGT sought to talk to the governors of Huíla and Namibe, noting the current situation, so as not to lead to stagnation in the economy of the two provinces, promoting mass negotiation and many joined.
Meanwhile, the provincial governor of Huíla, Nuno Mahapi considered the business sector vital for the development of the region and defended harmony between the parties, in order to boost the economic sector of the province.
'As you know, Huíla has one of the oldest business parks in the country, but it is going through several challenges and that are discussed in general in various aspects and the payment of this debt is one of them', he stressed.
Nuno Mahapi challenged AGT and entrepreneurs to share ideas and talk, so that a solution can be found that does not harm the economy. BP/MS/DOJ
