The Legislative Assembly approved in second debate a bill that aims to tax in the country the sale and self-consumption of imported or locally produced cement.
The initiative, which was approved in the first debate in the Assembly in mid-February and is still pending approval by the Executive Branch, establishes that the tax will be on imported cement produced nationally, in bags or in bulk, for sale or self-consumption, of any kind, whose destination is the consumption and marketing of the product nationally.
The Assembly approved in first debate a bill that seeks to tax the sale and self-consumption of cement that is imported or locally produced.
The initiative establishes that the tax will be on cement imported and produced nationally, in bags or in bulk, for sale or self-consumption, of any kind, whose destination is the consumption and marketing of the product at the national level, reported the Legislative Assembly.
With the entry into force of 122-2019 Agreement, the application of the specific tax, the customs information corresponding to cement or clinker imports and the appointment of personnel to supervise storage places is regulated.
Since the 122-2019 Governmental Agreement was published in the Diario de Centro América on July 25, 2019, the regulations have become effective in the country.
A bill aims to increase the specific tax on cement distribution from $0.19 to $0.65.
The controversial tax on the distribution of sacks of cement in the country, which currently stands at $0.19 (Q1,5) could go back up to $0.65 (Q5), if the bill put forward by the Congress of the Housing Commission is successful.
The construction union of Guatemala states that construction costs have increased by about 6% since the entry into force in January of a tax on the distribution of cement.
Since the start of the charging of a $0.66 tax per bag of cement distributed, representatives from cement companies have reported a drop in sales.
Pelayo Llarena, president of the Chamber of Construction, told Elperiodico.com.gt that "...
The argument is that the tax on cement will increase the cost of housing by at least 6% and the tax on phones will directly affect users of prepaid telephone lines.
From a statement issued by the Chamber of Industry of Guatemala:
The Chamber of Industry of Guatemala emphasizes that even though it promptly denounced the risk of lack of transparency and accountability of the state budget for Fiscal Year 2015, it has been approved and will lead to negative impacts on the population.
A legal reform will end tax exemptions on cement produced in the provinces of Alajuela, Limón, Heredia and Puntarenas.
A statement from the Legislative Assembly reads:
CEMENT PRODUCTION TAX PAID
The Standing Committee on Financial Affairs has approved the bill number 18164, by which is introduced an amendment to the 6849 Act that relates to the tax of five percent on the cement produced in Cartago, San Jose and Guanacaste.
Holcim will have to pay a 5% tax in favor of the municipality of Metapán for each bag of cement produced.
The law decree states that each 94.5 pounds of cement produced will have a 5% tax on the selling price and the amount will be paid to the municipality of Metapan. Likewise, a 5% tax on the sales price will also be applied to production of cement powder known as clinker.