Yesterday, 6:43 p.m.
Authors:
Vidzeme television
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The “Sculpture Black Days” campaign continues in the regions. Also in Valmiera, expressing their position against the forthcoming tax reform, the sculptures were covered with film. Unlike the campaign in Riga, in Valmiera the sculptures are dressed in bright colors.
Valmiera sculptors are also concerned about the forthcoming tax reform. The first sculpture of the urban environment, which is covered, is the work of the artist Andris Vārpa “Fountain of Light”.
Andris Vārpa believes that the tax changes will be a strong blow to the sculpture industry, especially for young artists, who need to continue to develop. Although artists in difficulty will be able to turn to the State Cultural Capital Fund for support, this is not a solution.
We have a lot of creative artists with good ideas and “cultural capital” [Valsts kultūrkapitāla fonds] only a small percentage is able to pay. Now that he has to pay more, he will be able to afford even less, ”said Vārpa.
The position of the artists created in the streets is only the visible part of the “iceberg”, points out the outstanding sculptor Gleb Panteleev. There have been discussions with politicians, but different attitudes have been received. The sculptor describes it as a wall that the artists built in Old Riga, on the Dome Square.
“Of course, I congratulate what happened in Valmiera today, because Valmiera shows solidarity with us. I assume that the Valmiera action around works of art also has a deeper essence, because the changes affect not only artists, but also small entrepreneurs, ”said Panteļejevs.
It is planned to decide on next year’s budget in the Saeima this week.
If there is no change in the forthcoming tax reform, the artists are ready to continue the protests.
CONTEXT:
Concerns about the forthcoming tax reform next year are expressed by the family of Latvian sculptors, who launched the campaign “Black Days of Sculpture” in Riga on November 12, covering their own monuments.
Next year it is planned to increase the minimum wage to 500 euros, increase the guaranteed minimum income to 109 euros, reduce mandatory social insurance contributions by one percentage point, introduce from 1 July mandatory minimum social contribution and other changes.
Representatives of the cultural industry for several reasons does not agree with the proposed changes and is have repeatedly spoken out against them, also holding a protest flash “The wall of misunderstanding“.
Therefore, the government agreed to maintain the eligible expenses for the recipients of royalties at 25% and 50%, which was also the current norm.
Discussions continue on how to address the social security of those working in alternative tax regimes. It is currently envisaged that all regimes will be transformed into two: one will pay taxes under the general tax regime, the other will be the self-employed regime, where a minimum social contribution must be paid.
Intended, that the self-employed with low wages will have to pay 10% of income in social contributions, but with higher wages – a certain rate, which must be paid at least from the minimum wage.
It was also agreed that the self-employed social tax payment will be supervised by the SRS, rather than social services, as previously suggested.
Meanwhile, from July 2021, recipients of royalties who did not register as economic operators will be subject to income tax at the rate of 25% personal income tax, if the annual turnover does not exceed 25,000 euros, while higher turnover will be taxed at 40%. 80% of the withheld will be used for mandatory state social insurance contributions and 20% for personal income tax. It is planned to abolish this model from 2022.
Photo: Ministry of Finance
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