The Colombian software industry closed another year of positive numbers. It is estimated that in 2014 the revenue growth would have been in the order of 35 percent, close to 7.5 billion pesos.
The good performance occurred despite the growing shortage of professionals affecting the sector, joined unusually well-intentioned tax measures that ended up generating greater tax burden for the most innovative companies
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This was explained Paola Restrepo, president of the Colombian Federation of the Software Industry and Related Technologies (Fedesoft), guild has warned that growth industry may not be sustained if it is not working at the lack of professionals.
Fedesoft figures of the country indicate that 45,000 professionals are employed in the sector and 12,000 new professional graduates a year are needed to meet demand. However, annually, according to the National Government, only about 5,000 students graduate each year.
While programs are under way to encourage young people from the Ministry of ICT graduates to start an IT industry related career, the same companies have had to implement programs to “hook” talents at major universities in the country and to cope with the lack of professionals.
Eyes in Congress
One of the themes that have preoccupied these days software companies in the country is the National Development Plan. In 2012 was extended by five years the benefit of exemption from income for companies that develop software products with a high content of innovation, provided that such technological advances counted with a certification Colciencias.
Yet , t flush the birth of Income Tax Equity (CREE) was established that even exempt income products should pay the tax to finance social investment programs.
The Cree rate was set at 9 percent for 2013, 2014 and 2015 and 8 percent for the following years. However, explained the president of Fedesoft, currently sector companies are paying more taxes paid by Cree to declare income and pay dividends among its members.
“If the shareholder pays income, which is most likely, will pay 25 percent of traditional tax plus nine percent Cree, already paid once. So in that case is not good business to be free of rent, “Restrepo said.
The correction of this error could not be included in the most recent tax reform, however, software companies are confident that the National Development Plan includes the project allowing them to take real advantage of the exemption.
However, this is not the only bitter experience that the industry has had to go through the legislature. Restrepo recalled that during 2014 Fedesoft sought legislation that sought to support the developers of local software when participating in public procurement because today many companies are not taken into account in these processes to not qualify law.
The project was led Congress also included the creation of an innovation fund for the industry, however, the initiative did not come to fruition and ended up being archived. “Quite possibly many companies disagreed with this innovation fund … I think that we must endure better and have government support,” he said the executive, who expects the bill to be presented again the first half of 2016.
Miguel Angel Hernandez S.
MiguelHernanSer
EDITORIAL technosphere
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