The Portuguese Government is finally taking action to enforce payment of the country’s food security tax from operators of large supermarket chains.
Portugal’s State Secretary for Food said that 107 cases are currently before the administrative and tax courts, and another seven, challenging payment of the tax, are being examined in the tax courts. 21 cases have been referred to the Treasury following a disagreement between the Government and the supermarkets.
The Government has so far collected around 65 percent of the total tax due in 2012 and 2013. Specifically, EUR7.5m (USD10.1m) was settled in 2012, while a further EUR2.8m remains outstanding. In 2013, and following a change in the law, 64.5 percent of the anticipated total of EUR8.8m was paid.
As a result of a change in the law only the area dedicated to food retail now falls within the scope of the tax, rather than the entire commercial area as was the case initially.
