The mandatory implementation of a digital customer log has triggered strikes and protests among auto repair and maintenance businesses, who argue that the measure is often impractical and causes ‘digital suffocation’ for professionals. The strikes involve 24-hour stoppages by workshops, car washes, parking services, and vehicle rental companies, in response to the new regulation by the Independent Authority for Public Revenues (AADE) and the government’s refusal to grant a reasonable extension to address issues.
The protests coincide with the peak of summer travel, when technical support for vehicles is most needed. The strike covers all professionals in the sector: car workshops, lighting repair shops, alarm and sound installation companies, car washes, parking facilities, and car and motorcycle rental businesses.
Under the new rule, these businesses must now digitally record every service performed and submit data to the AADE via an online platform, aiming to ‘enhance tax compliance.’
However, industry professionals describe the situation as ‘digital suffocation,’ pointing out that most small and family-run workshops lack the infrastructure, personnel, or technical training to implement the measure immediately. They emphasize that there was no transitional period or proper guidance from authorities, and the framework for which services must be recorded is considered ‘vague and potentially dangerous,’ creating legal uncertainty and fear of arbitrary interpretations and fines.
This new obligation adds to the already complex digital ecosystem that includes electronic ledgers (myDATA) and digital shipping notes, leading to what professionals call unfair competition against those without organized accounting or technical support.
The AADE defends the measure by citing data showing high levels of tax evasion in the sector: 67% in workshops, 60% in car washes, and 41% in parking facilities. However, business owners warn that ‘the new system will not enhance transparency but will instead threaten the survival of thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises that form the backbone of the market.’