The selective taxation of consumption in Peru: Between the recovery purpose and the extrafiscality

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the investigation is to determine whether the fundamentals of selective taxation, its structure, purpose and theoretical importance are corroborated in practice. To do this, it is questioned whether the modification mentioned was for collection purposes or if it was, rather, a discouraging measure of consumption. Method: It is a qualitative investigation since the phenomenon is explored and described from the perspective of the researcher and is based on the review of literature, in context and in intuition. Results: In May 2018, the Ministry of Economy and Finance issued several supreme decrees increasing the rates of the Selective Consumption Taxes in Perú. The products affected by the increase were fuels, sugary drinks, alcoholic beverages, and new and used vehicles. The disposition far from going unnoticed became controversial and media, revealing the misinformation that exists on this tribute. Conclusions: In practice, the selective taxation it shows distorted in terms of the theoretical fundaments that support it, that is to say, the tax is not accomplish its extra-fiscal purpose (demotivating the consumption of the goods affected by the burden) but instead, almost by inertia and supported by the economic characteristics of the goods that are subject to the burden, the fiscal purpose is to overcoming the traditional extrafiscality that must follow the selective taxation.