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For years, several national and international organizations have indicated Mexico's low tax collection , especially in comparison with other members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and other Latin American countries . Information from 2016 shows that tax collection only represents 16.6% of the Gross Domestic Product , while in Argentina and Brazil, it represents around 30% of the GDP ; in France, Italy, and Austria , it represents over 40% .
During several presidential terms , tax requirements were modified every year, there were also attempts to implement a tax reform through treasury conventions but the tax collection hasn't increased, as it was expected.
What if the problem is the authority in charge of tax collection ? And if those in charge don't fulfill their job? EL UNIVERSAL released information that might hint this is the case.
During the previous administration , 13 SAT employees in every 100 , the authority in charge of tax collection, were involved in irregularities . Only 555 SAT workers were reported before the Attorney General's Office for several crimes , including money laundering, theft, and bribery .
The majority of crimes take place inside the Federal Tax Audit Administration, followed by General Customs, and the areas in charge of large taxpayers.
The Tax Administration Service (SAT) has been given more faculties to investigate and act against suspicious operations linked to money laundering , in order to attack the criminal groups' finances but there has been very little success. Last year, the Financial Action Task Force Against the Laundering of Assets (GAFI) backed this claims, as it explained that Mexico has a mature and solid strategy against money laundering but the corruption that prevails in the authorities in charge damage their ability to investigate and punish this crime .
The discovery of alleged crimes committed by SAT employees worsens because it represents possible negative implications in areas that are crucial for the country. In regards to security , they have stopped freezing the criminals' bank accounts . In the social sphere, a low tax collection prevents the possibility of allocating more resources to solve social inequality.
Bodies such as the SAT are key for the country, therefore, a strict control in regards to those who are part of it is necessary. It is inconceivable that employees from the SAT , a body meant to strengthen the public treasury , are the first ones to ransack the country. It's like living with the enemy .
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