ISIMM conference on Internet Taxation
Yesterday 06 October 2014, at the headquarters of Monte dei Paschi di Siena in Rome in Via Minghetti 30 / a there was the conference organized by ISIMM on internet taxation.
"Hot" topic concerning the tax optimization strategies adopted by the OTTs to pay tax rates immensely lower than the rates paid by all companies based in Europe with a permanent national organization, which cannot adopt the same measures due to evident dimensional differences, financial and multinational presence.
Among the speakers of the first part of the conference, moderated by Vincenzo Zeno-Zencovitch, many university professors ( Raffaello Lupi, University and Rome "Tor Vergata", Mauro Marè, Eella University of Tuscia, Giovanni Puoti, University and Rome "La Sapienza" - Cusano University, Giuseppe Tinelli, Universities and the Roma Tre ), a representative of the MEF finance department ( Bungaro ), one of the tax office ( Marco di Capua ), and a one from AgCom ( Antonio Nicita ).
A fragmented picture emerged and with ideas that are still vague and uneven in identifying the mechanism that generated and continues to generate an apparent dichotomy between the real economy and the digital economy ( which is actually an "appropriation" and amplification of the real economy through the theft and continuous spying of user data ).
The legislative framework is absolutely inadequate, how inadequate are the proposals to find "in bonis", an agreement with “discounted” terms and conditions for OTT operators. (... unfortunately ventilated by several related voices ...)
Other data emerged, that snaked in the relationships offered, it is the generational detachment that makes the internet framed as a "third" reality from real life ... lever widely exploited by lobbies to gain time and competitive advantages not deriving from true innovation.
The representatives of the institutions, they have a partial perception of the phenomenon without being able to grasp the strategies of the OTTs and do not have weapons and tax instruments to equate the treatments reserved to the fiscal dynamics.
Everyone used conciliatory and soft tones, even too much, considering the evident unsustainability of this situation ... scenario already seen and reviewed in the best films where "one is strong with the weak and weak with the strong"!!!
I have personally mentioned for example, the Tripadvisor scandal ( ex Expedia ) which is invisible not only from a legal point of view, but even from the fiscal one ... ..with evident market distortions and dynamics that amplify misleading advertising and unfair competition in tourism.
In the second part of the conference, moderated by Raffaele Barberio, the speakers represented the protagonists of the titanic battle taking place in the telecommunications and multimedia content market: OTT, Telco e TV.
They intervened: Diego Ciulli di Google, Laura Bononcini of Facebook, Stefano Selli of Mediaset, Michelangelo Suigo of Vodafone, Giovanni Venditti of Telecom Italia. The Rai representative was absent.
Remarkable is the prudence with which the Telcos have "hinted" at an asymmetry of treatment that is no longer acceptable to them, who must follow strict data management rules for privacy, including the different tax treatment.
The OTTs have, with little success, attempted to free himself from indisputable evidence vaguely referred to ( stable organization and treatment… .or better, misuse of the data of others ).
He made Ciulli’s approach smile ( google ) who began by claiming that they, di Big G, they make a statement only after analyzing the numbers and criticizing the disorderly approach of the laws, of legislators and institutions, then falling on a "I don't know" when asked HOW MUCH GOOGLE HAD BILLED IN ITALY.
Another element that made us smile is the fact that in 2013 Google has paid 1 Million ed 800 thousand euros of taxes in Italy, in the face of 150 employees… doing a quick calculation, each would generate a tax revenue of 12 thousand euros a year, than compared to direct and indirect labor costs, it is clearly not congruous ( in comparison, the employees as a group would have earned more, compared to google as a business… .hahaha! ).
But the thing that just could not be heard without turning up your mouth , was his peremptory statement: "The digital economy does not exist,"In that, always according to him, the 75% of the wealth generated , it falls on real productive activities… .in short, a pantomime of the three card game!!!
Finally , always Ciulli said that google , “However it pays an average rate of 20% “… Since it speaks for itself, especially in light of the fact that the OTTs pride themselves on being the SUN to innovate…. and we could add, thanks to the money not paid in taxes.
La Bononcini ( Facebook ), "Pardoned" both on the fiscal and privacy issues for a few and slight references made during the conference, focused on citing the 7 recommendations produced by the OECD, That, as can be understood from the definition itself, it is a jet of water in the presence of a huge fire…. which is devouring everything and everyone, to the greedy satisfaction of the devils who feed it.
The final part of the conference saw the intervention of President Francesco Boccia ( Commission and Budget, Treasury and Programming ) that in addition to having reiterated the concept that it is right to tax the subjects that generate income in and in the territory thanks to the payments of LOCAL citizens and businesses, which contribute to the livelihood and growth of the territory itself, revealed a CHARMING backstory.
In the aftermath of the proposal on the ill-defined web-tax ( so called instrumentally by the lobbies in order to confuse ideas ), he said he was subjected to unprecedented pressure,
( which in my view are unacceptable and shameful ) by the American Embassy ... in a democratic state, free and sovereign there would have been many other reactions, rather than the ugly cover-up that instead took place!
Cover-up which was assisted and endorsed by Matteo Renzi who canceled the taxation proposal studied by Francesco Boccia to unload the barrel to the European Commission, without wanting to acknowledge an aberrant and aberrant reality, protecting the interests of operators who are sucking the lifeblood of a system unable to fight these PARASITISMS!!!
Francesco Boccia called into question Renzi inviting him to take responsibility for not having yet taxed the OTTs.
Anna Cinzia Bonfrisco also intervened ( Budget Commission of the Senate of the Republic ).
Despite the maximum pressure put in place by the lobbies belonging to the OTTs, the wind has changed and the conditions that are no longer sustainable give a glimpse of disastrous scenarios if the route is not reversed immediately and if the tax treatment of the "crafty planet", to European legal entities.
Unfortunately, the experts in the tax sector and the bodies that implement the laws are helpless and indifferent to the dynamics put in place by the OTT or in some cases, "Inexplicably" suffering from a wait-and-see approach that is worsening the already bleak picture.
( Dear OECD, do what you have to do and quickly !!!!! NOT BY 2017!!!!!)
Meanwhile it is worth mentioning that in France, in Germany, in England and very soon in Spain, they have already moved ....
As in any self-respecting battle , it is too much self-confidence shown by the most arrogant and strong, which then leads them to an unpredictable epilogue ...
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