IMU on public housing in Messina, clash between Iacp and the former administration: 'Bitter victory'

Mixed reactions in Messina to the decision of the Tax Justice Court that has given the green light to the Municipality to collect about 2.9 million euros in unpaid Imu taxes from the Iacp, related to properties intended for public housing. This matter has reignited the debate between the Autonomous Institute for Public Housing and the former administration of Palazzo Zanca.

The president of Iacp, Beppe Picciolo, intervened, calling the ruling "a bitter victory". "There is absolutely nothing to rejoice about in the matter of Imu taxes related to social housing – he stated –. I remind citizens that the social rent of about 52 euros per month will be almost entirely absorbed by the payment of Imu for each individual property, amounting to about 500 euros per year per housing unit".

According to Picciolo, the situation could have direct repercussions on the management of public housing assets. "This effectively nullifies for the Institute any possibility of ensuring the ordinary maintenance of social housing, which are assigned by the Municipalities," he added. The president of Iacp clarified that he does not want to enter into the legal merits of the ruling, especially since the device has not yet been filed. However, on a social and political level, he spoke of "a humiliating victory for those who should prioritize the most vulnerable and less affluent individuals", hoping for the opening of a dialogue between the involved institutions.

The response from the former municipal councilor for Taxes, Roberto Cicala, was swift. "There is no celebration on my part or on the part of the municipal administration, rather satisfaction for the correctness, thus far established, of the work done," he stated.

Cicala rejected the criticisms made by Iacp, arguing that the agency cannot "hide the responsibilities of its offices by shifting them to the Municipality", which would have simply conducted the tax assessments, also in relation to the failure to submit the necessary declarations to obtain the Imu exemption on the properties.

"The Municipality is obliged to carry out its activity of assessing uncollected taxes – he added – also thanks to the new information system introduced by the administration, which cross-references taxpayer data with numerous lists, including that of the Ministry regarding Imu declarations from non-commercial entities".

From here comes the invitation directed to Picciolo: "Make a mea culpa on behalf of Iacp and acknowledge the work done by the Municipality with professionalism". A controversy likely to continue in the coming weeks, while further developments on the matter are awaited.