Many people already expected the measure to be announced this week, but few imagined that it would be “confirmed” unofficially on Tuesday night (11). The Federal Revenue informed that it will end the tax exemption for international orders that cost up to US$ 50 (R$ 250 at the current quotation). The biggest targets are the Chinese giants Shopee, Aliexpress and Shein, which have a vast list of products sold in this price range.
The information was given by Secretary Robinson Barreirinhas, in an interview with the UOL portal, and was later confirmed by the Federal Revenue’s own advisory, to g1. The measure had already been circulated behind the scenes for months and is part of the package of measures by the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, to increase revenue.
The bill for the new fiscal framework, which provides for new parameters for collecting fees and taxes, should be forwarded to the National Congress next Monday (17). Because of the deadline that determines the submission of the Budgetary Guidelines Law project (LDO) until April 15 of each year, the project will be filed in Congress on Friday (14).
Government estimates to raise up to R$ 8 billion with the end of the exemption
The Ministry of Finance went so far as to say that the tactic used to circumvent Federal Revenue rules, taking advantage of the tax exemption of up to US$ 50, could be called “digital smuggling”: in the view of the authorities, companies would be impersonating people physical items to send international purchases without charging the tax.
“Today there is only exemption of up to US$ 50 for remittances from individuals to individuals, which in practice is only being used for fraud: remittances from companies that put the name of individuals as senders”, explained Barreirinhas to g1. With the measure, the government hopes to raise up to BRL 8 billion with the taxation of international platforms such as Shein, Shopee and Aliexpress.
For the new measures to work, the Revenue will require more information, through an electronic system with complete and advance import declarations. Among the data will be the identity of the exporter and importer. And the government will fine anyone who underinvoices or sends incomplete data to the platform.
In addition, transport companies will have to provide more detailed information about parcels. More details on the entire operation, requirements and punishments should be released in the coming days.
Shein, Shopee and Aliexpress have always stated that they act under the country’s laws and regulations, and have not yet commented on the government’s decision.
