In 2020, annus horribilis of the Italian economy, the tax burden rose to 43,1 per cent; the same threshold we had reached in 2014, just 0,3 percentage points from the historical record we recorded in 2013. Tax burden, recalls the CGIA Studies Office, which is given by the ratio between tax revenues and contributions to GDP .
Obviously, the 0,7 percentage point increase compared to 2019 is largely attributable to the collapse of GDP which fell by 8,9 percent last year. Although it was more contained than that recorded by the latter, tax and social security revenues also suffered a strong contraction in revenue (-6,3 per center). In absolute terms, the tax authorities, INPS and social security funds collected 711 billion euros, 48,3 billion less than what was recorded in 2019.
Despite these clarifications, the CGIA Studies Office reports, it is clear that the overall tax burden on families and businesses is a big problem. It was before the pandemic, let alone now, with many companies at risk of closure and with many people slipping towards the poverty line.
• Zero taxes for one year: reduction of 30 billion euro
Also for these reasons, the artisans from Mestre once again reiterate that the provision of new support to micro and small businesses that the Draghi Government is developing these days must be accompanied by a zeroing of the tax burden for the current year. Otherwise, we risk that once collected, these refunds will be immediately returned to the state in the form of taxes, fees and contributions. A round game that already took place last year which for many entrepreneurs represented a real joke. This general cut in taxes and revenue for the current year would cost the tax authorities between 28/30 billion euros. An estimate that was calculated assuming to allow all economic activities with a turnover in 2019 of less than one million euros not to pay personal income tax, IRES and IMU on the warehouses for the current year. These companies, which amount to about 4,9 million units (equal to about 89 per cent of the national total), should still pay local taxes, so as not to cause liquidity problems to the Mayors and Presidents of the region. Lightened by the burden of an often unjust tax, for a year they would live with less anxiety, less stress and more serenity. Not only that, but with 28/30 billion saved we will lay the foundations to restart the country's economy.
• Another 50 billion in non-repayable grants by July
In addition to the zeroing of taxes, the CGIA Studies Office hopes that the executive will put on the table at least another 50 billion euros by next July, which will allow it to reimburse the losses to a greater extent than what has been done so far. suffered by companies and allow entrepreneurs to compensate a good part of the fixed costs incurred. Modalities, the latter, which France and Germany have applied for some months, having transposed the new provisions introduced by the EU on state aid to companies. Fixed costs (such as rents, insurance, utilities, etc.) which, despite the obligation to close and the consequent zeroing of revenues, unfortunately the economic activities continue to sustain. This important effort must be made by the summer, a period in which, thanks to the effects of the vaccination campaign and the climatic conditions, we should have left the pandemic behind and returned to a situation of "normality". From the rumors that have appeared in recent days, it seems that the “Sostegni bis” decree currently being approved provides for the compensation of fixed costs, even if to a very limited extent and completely insufficient to respond to the demands of economic activities.
• The crisis has mainly affected the Southern economy
According to the Istat survey carried out towards the end of last year, by crossing the data relating to the number of companies that have reported being at High and Medium-High operational risk with the corresponding number of employees involved, it is possible to map the operational risk of our economic system. The result of this operation revealed that the South is the geographical area most affected by the pandemic: five regions are at combined high risk (Abruzzo, Campania, Basilicata, Calabria and Sardinia), while another 2 are at medium high risk (Puglia and Sicily). In the South, only Molise is in a situation of combined Medium-Low risk. In the Center, on the other hand, the situation in Umbria (High-Risk), Lazio and Tuscany (Medium-High Risk) is concerned. Finally, in the North, the situation that has emerged in Valle d'Aosta and in the autonomous province of Bolzano, which fall within the combined Medium-High risk area, is of concern. Compared to all the main northern regions, Veneto has a higher level of vulnerability; this situation is attributable to its strong tourist vocation and to the crisis recorded, in particular, in the leather and textile / clothing sector.
More generally, according to Istat, the fragility of a territory is attributable both to the degree of diffusion of the sectors most affected by the crisis and to the level of specialization of the local economy in these activities. In particular, textiles, clothing and leather processing suffer more than others, sectors which have been severely tested in this last year by the sharp contraction recorded by domestic and international demand. Equally dramatic is the situation of the sectors that revolve around tourism (hotels, tour operators, travel agencies, local public transport, etc.), retail trade, street vendors, bars and restaurants, cultural activities (museums, cinemas and theaters), sports ones (swimming pools, gyms) and those related to leisure time (amusement parks, traveling shows, discos, etc.) which more than others have suffered the negative effects of the closure and physical distancing measures imposed by the Government.
