2022 tax planning: how to optimize business in an uncertain scenario?

Companies should focus on 2022 tax planning considering the situation of their business, their results, and projections

By Luciana Uchôa

Just like every end of year, businesspeople dedicate the last few months to prepare for what lies ahead in the tax sphere. But the question for many of them is: how to conduct the 2022 tax planning in face of so many uncertainties in the national environment?

The truth is, it was never easy and predictable. But, especially this time, companies find themselves in the midst of anticipation of a tax reform and inserted in a market that is trying to recover from pandemic impacts, immersed in an economic panorama that brings extra challenges.

2022 tax planning: what can be done?

This is the time to set the path for the company's tax management over the next year. Conducting tax planning will certainly contribute to improving tax management.

Understanding the benefits of tax planning helps you perceive the value of this process:

Business X-ray is essential

Even considering the uncertain scenario, it is necessary for the company to analyze the moment of its business, its results, and projections.

Size, income, costs, profit margin, effects of the tax burden on the business must be taken into account, always considering the goals and strategies, which may even include merger and acquisition plans or IPO, for example.

After observing these points, the perspectives for planning the following year become clearer.

Choice of tax regime

The option for the tax regime derives from a careful analysis of the aforementioned factors. The characteristics and situations that define the classification are listed below, in addition to the deadlines for changing the model:

In addition to gross revenue, there are other aspects that result in mandatory classification in a given regime. Taxpayers who do not fall within the obligation range can choose the form of taxation that they consider most advantageous.

Use of tax incentives

Tax incentives are instruments that can reduce the tax burden, either through a reduction in the tax rate or exemption.

Checking what are the incentives granted at the federal, state, and municipal levels is a practice that should also be part of tax planning, as the identification of these opportunities contributes to tax relief.

Recovery of tax credits

Credit recovery represents an opportunity to recover/offset tax double payment or overpayment. And this type of occurrence is quite common in a complex tax model like the Brazilian one.

A tax review conducted by experts can point out situations that are favorable to the taxpayer, in which there is possibility of recovering unduly paid amounts or overpayments and the possibility of taking credit in future transactions.

In some situations, credits can be used to settle unpaid taxes, while in other cases it is even possible to get the amount returned to the company's cash.

Starting the next year with this revenue can increase the company's competitiveness.