parishes complain an “avalanche” of notifications to pay IMI, when should be free . parish homes, catechetical halls, convents and squares in front of churches are some of the targets. The Government ensures that changed nothing in the law or ordered to do so. Contradictory done, still missing explanation for the Tax Authority be allegedly sending improper claims for payment.
We start with the Government’s response to the complaints of the priests, coming mainly from the north of the country: “This government did not introduce any legislative change in this area, nor issued any guidance to be withdrawn any exemptions the Concordat “, reads the response by e-mail sent by the Ministry of Finance to TVI24 , in reaction to the news edition of Friday’s News Journal.
the Episcopal Conference, through its spokesman Manuel Barbosa, speaking in a situation of “abuse” and “disrespect” and August is being a blatant month:
[has happened] in recent years and recent months. Not new situation. But this time is to be excessive notifications, to say, excuse the expression, an avalanche in various dioceses. “
The Ministry of Finance points out that the Concordat signed in 1940 exempted the entire Catholic Church, but one that was agreed in 2004, and that is what is in place between the Holy See and the State, “reduced the scope of IMI exemption limited to the real estate directly affects for religious purposes (including dependencies or attachments of those buildings intended for use IPSS). “
Who is then out?
” the Catholic Church (or more precisely, the canonical legal persons), when also develop activities with purposes other than religious, considered as the portguês right, as, among others, social solidarity, education and culture, in addition to trade and profit, are subject to the tax regime applicable to their organization. “in such cases, IMI pay.
the problem may be precisely the classification of property that is done by the Tax Authority. It is that these establishments can often mix several activities related to religion and education, for example. The former are not taxed; the latter are. And the spokesman of the Bishops’ Conference believes that the Fisco is “mixing everything” .
But it is also the Manuel Barbosa himself who, on the phone with the TVI24 , which recognizes that there may be “one or another” situation in which the property does not become exempt from payment, but argues that “almost all” the dioceses are.
It is necessary to clarify the situations well, as I say there are some situations in which it is to be paid, if they paid as due. But it is necessary to clarify and is, there is an abuse situations which are exempt [and notifications arrive in the same]. “
Contesting is the solution, but gives work
the Tax Authority, in turn, also said that their services “identify and correct any possible exemptions that were being applied without legal support, immediately in breach of the Concordat agreed in 2004″ and that in the case of owners disagree with the payment real estate can always complain.
These complaints, promises will be “reviewed, to ensure that the legislation is being properly applied and, if necessary, correcting the effected settlements “.
As the problem has arisen, although to a lesser degree, over the years, there have been in the past dioceses to contest and, according to the Episcopal Conference, received response positive tax authorities. But it is a process that takes work, is bureaucratic and advocates, it could be avoided.
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