Taxes: How Much Can SMEs Save in a Year by Applying for RIMI, RIFL, and FAL Benefits

The government of Javier Milei rejects the idea of implementing what are called "active policies" to promote the development of certain activities. However, cases like the Regime for Incentive to Large Investments (RIGI) constitute a true promotion program for large companies. In the case of SMEs, there is also a set of measures to assist investment and the regularization of personnel, which offers the possibility of accessing considerable savings.

According to a report prepared by the PMP Accounting & Consulting firm for Ámbito, companies with up to 40 employees can achieve annual savings of up to $160 million in labor costs.

It is clear that in the current situation, small and medium-sized enterprises are developing defensive strategies due to the decline in demand combined with the opening of imports, which makes most of them think about downsizing or avoiding closure rather than expanding.

However, it is interesting to consider the benefits, especially for companies looking to integrate into the new model where sectors like energy and mining are the most dynamic.

Taxes: The Impact of the Labor Formalization Incentive Regime (RIFL)

The implementation generates an immediate structural decrease in total labor costs for the main collective agreements in the country. In the case of SMEs, the projected savings is close to 10% in the labor cost structure, while for large companies, the projected savings is 11.5%.

• For a position with a gross salary of $2,000,000, the monthly savings per worker is $260,000. The annual savings per worker is $3,380,000.
• In a payroll of 10 workers, this represents an accumulated annual savings of $34 million. Over 48 months, which is the duration of the regime, an SME can save up to $135.2 million.

In a large company under the same parameters, the benefit amounts to $160 million.

Incentive Regime for Medium Investments (RIMI)

Under a conservative macroeconomic scenario (without projecting increases in sales or exchange rate variations) for a microservice company at its billing peak ($370 million annually) that makes a minimum investment in machinery of $150,000 (amortizable over 10 years):

• Impact on Income Tax (Accelerated Amortization): The tax reduction is equivalent to 14% of the investment made, representing a financial benefit of $21,000 annually during the first two fiscal years.
• Direct Recovery of VAT: Through crediting to a bank account in the fourth month after the investment is made, the company recovers 78% of the VAT paid, generating an immediate liquidity injection of $12,300.

Labor Assistance Fund (FAL)

The FAL transforms the traditional scheme of labor liabilities into a predictable mandatory coverage fund. Based on average salaries of $2,000,000, with inflation adjustments of 2% per month and a fund yield of 1% per month.

• SME scenario (40 employees): With a projected monthly contribution of $2,000,000, after 12 months the company capitalizes a fund equivalent to 11.2 average salaries. This allows it to immediately absorb the severance pay for a worker with 11 years of service or for 11 workers with 1 year of seniority.
• Large Company Scenario (1,000 employees): With a monthly contribution of $20,000,000, it accumulates a backup equivalent to 114 average salaries in a year, covering contingencies equivalent to 6 severances for personnel with 19 years of seniority or 10 workers with 11 years of experience.

Benefits of the Combined Use of the Three Programs for SMEs

The study is for an SME with 40 employees with a gross salary of $2,000,000. With the RIFL, it regularizes 4 workers. On the other hand, it takes advantage of the RIMI and acquires machinery for $150,000 while with the FAL it contributes 2.5% monthly on the gross payroll.

• The report indicates that in the first year, the savings would be $13,520,000 from the RIFL.
• From accelerated amortization of the Income Tax, about $21,000 or $31.5 million, while the VAT refund amounts to about $12,300 or $18.45 million.
• Through the FAL, the company accumulates $24 million plus returns from the investment that equate to 11.2 average salaries of fully funded severance contingencies.