Stations that did not pass on ICMS discount to consumers are fined in Rio

In Barra da Tijuca, west of the state capital, consumers celebrated the price discount.

“I was filling up with ethanol because gasoline was very expensive, despite yielding less. Now I’m going back to gasoline”, said engineer Jorge Carvalho.

However, he could be paying even less than the R$6.79 for a liter of fuel.

After analyzing the tax documentation of the gas station where Jorge supplied, Procon and the Departments of Consumer Protection and Finance realized that the value should be R$ 6.12.

The establishment was fined.

At another post, in Freguesia, in Jacarepaguá, also in the west, employees were changing prices at the moment the inspection arrived. The liter of gasoline rose to R$6.19 and that of ethanol to R$4.96.

Travel agent Glória Fernandes took advantage. “I just filled the tank for about R$290 and I was spending R$360”.

After reducing the ICMS rate on fuel from 32% to 18%, the government of the state of Rio de Janeiro estimated a reduction of R$ 1.19 per liter of gasoline. For the accounts, the State took into account an average of R$ 7.80, with a forecast of reaching R$ 6.61.

In the case of ethanol, the government expects a discount of R$ 0.79 per liter.

To find out if the values ​​are already lower at the pumps, the government started this Monday (4) an inspection at gas stations in at least five regions of the state.

If the establishment has not lowered the price of the liter and does not present invoices proving the value charged, it may be fined.

The operation was named Lupa na Bomba and will have the support of the Civil and Military Police, in the five regions of the state. According to information from Procon, in the inspection, initially the post that has not lowered prices will be fined.

Thereafter, an administrative proceeding will be opened for investigation. If any irregularity is proven, the amount of the fine is calculated, according to the seriousness of the problem and the revenue of the place, and can reach R$ 12 million.

The reduction of ICMS does not only happen in Rio de Janeiro.

According to survey of CNN Agency at least 19 states and the Federal District have already announced cuts in the tax rate on fuels, after the Minister of the Federal Supreme Court André Mendonça determined that the tax should be uniform throughout the country.