“At the end of 2017 no Portuguese will pay the surcharge” – Diário de Notícias – Lisbon

Prime minister argues that the replacement income should be phased to ensure that the goal of deficit

The secretary-general of the PS argued today that only with a strategy of gradualism in the replacement of income, such as will happen in 2017 with the end of the surcharge to the IRS, if you can meet the goal of deficit reduction.

António Costa was speaking to journalists at the entrance to the meeting of the Committee on National Policy of the PS, which is also present as a special guest (since he is not a militant socialist) Finance minister, Mário Centeno.

asked if the Government is not to postpone the fulfillment of the promise of the elimination of the surcharge to the IRS, since that will not end in the final the 01 of January, but only for all the scales in November next year, António Costa refused this perspective.

“we Have pursued a strategy of replacement of the incomes of families often gradually as this year. Only the next day 20 is that the public officials summer fully restored the wages that have been cut, but, as we promised, this year’s end and even pay cuts,” declared the title of the example.

According to the socialist leader, in relation to the elimination of the surcharge to the IRS, it’s the same thing compared to what went on with the restitution of wages of public administration.

“we Said that [the surcharge on personal income tax] would end in 2017 and will end up the same in 2017. At the end of 2017 no Portuguese will pay the surcharge. Will be gradual, yes, because we have to ensure both replacement income and the fulfillment of our goals of deficit reduction,” he added.

Before the journalists, the prime minister also claimed that, by direct action of the Government, in 2016, the surcharge on personal income tax was already eliminated in relation to 68% of the Portuguese population.

“As to the 32% who still pay, will disappear throughout the year fully, gradually. In April, who is in the second tier of the IRS already does not pay surcharge; in July the same applies to the third tier; in October, it will be the turn of the fourth rank and pay; and, finally, who is at the level maximum, you will no longer pay the surcharge in November,” he said.