Brazil
Latin America's largest economy — with the EU–Mercosur agreement provisionally applied since 1 May 2026
Brazil has more than 210 million people and is the world's largest exporter of soybeans, coffee, sugar and beef. Since 1 May 2026 the trade part of the EU–Mercosur agreement has applied provisionally: Mercosur duties on most EU industrial goods are coming down gradually, usually over ten years. The tax system is exceptionally complex and is being replaced: between 2026 and 2033 the consumption taxes PIS, COFINS, ICMS and ISS give way to a dual CBS/IBS. Since 1 January 2026 dividends paid abroad are taxed again (10 %). A 1986 double-taxation treaty applies with both Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
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Setting up a company
Setting up a company and tax are the part of the profile you cannot assemble elsewhere in an afternoon. The rest of the page is open.
- ·Legal forms
- ·Foreign ownership
- ·Director and residence
Taxes
Setting up a company and tax are the part of the profile you cannot assemble elsewhere in an afternoon. The rest of the page is open.
- ·Corporate income tax
- ·VAT
- ·Withholding tax — dividends
- ·Withholding tax — interest
- ·Withholding tax — royalties
- ·Payroll contributions
- ·Double taxation treaty
What it makes and needs
Soybeans, crude oil, iron ore, meat (beef and poultry), sugar, coffee, pulp. China is the largest buyer, followed by the EU and the US.
Machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilisers, fuels, medicines, car parts and electronics.
Money and payments
The real (BRL), floating. Foreign-exchange operations go through banks authorised by the central bank, and the IOF financial-transactions tax applies (rate by type of operation). The domestic instant-payment system PIX works in reais only.
Importing into their market
The importer must be registered in the Siscomex foreign-trade system (RADAR qualification). Some goods need an import licence (LI) before shipment; the customs declaration is moving to the new DUIMP system.
The Mercosur common external tariff (TEC), usually 10–20 %, at most 35 %. Since 1 May 2026 goods of EU origin get the reducing rates of the EU–Mercosur agreement (for most industrial goods down to zero over ten years). On top of the duty, imports pay IPI, PIS/COFINS and ICMS — and one tax's base often includes another.
Mandatory certification of listed products (appliances, toys, car parts and more) is run by INMETRO; food, cosmetics and medical devices fall under ANVISA, agricultural products under the MAPA ministry.
Bringing their goods into the EU
The EU–Mercosur interim trade agreement has applied provisionally with Brazil (and Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay) since 1 May 2026. EU duties on Brazilian goods fall on a schedule; sensitive agricultural products are under quotas. Brazil is not a GSP beneficiary.
Origin is declared by the exporter itself in a statement on origin under the agreement's protocol; on the EU side the exporter needs approved-exporter status or REX registration.
Meat and poultry only from EU-approved establishments with a health certificate. From 30 December 2026 soy, beef, coffee, cocoa and wood fall under the EU deforestation regulation (small and micro firms from 30 June 2027).
Practical matters
Portuguese.
UTC−3 (Brasília, São Paulo); the country has four time zones and has not used daylight saving since 2019.
The main container ports for European cargo: Santos (São Paulo), Paranaguá and Itajaí/Navegantes.
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