On the first day of August 2024, the taxation of international purchases of up to fifty dollars came into force. Before, purchases up to this amount had no fees, in addition to freight and ICMS. At the end of June, President Lula signed into law the law that created the 20% tax rate on international purchases of up to US$ 50.00.
This measure aims to correct an imbalance that existed between domestic and foreign sellers, especially in lower price products. Brazilian retail is subject to taxes and fees that make foreign sellers (mainly Asian virtual stores 'OT practices much more competitive prices, even with freight and ICMS. Thus, the volume of purchases on these international sites had been very high, which somehow harms the domestic industry and retail. According to the Retail Development Institute (IDV), national retailers are subject to a tax burden between 70 and 110%.
But what changes for consumers, at first, , is that buyers now need to be much more attentive to the prices practiced on foreign sites. This is because prices can be not so attractive; so buy in a Brazilian e-commerce, or even in a physical store, can be cheaper. The main rule now is to search well, especially in those products above R$ 100.00 (about US$ 20.00). Many consumers directly accessed Asian marketplaces in the first step of the buying journey, the search, without even considering the local suppliers.
At this point, you may be wondering: are there good reasons to implement this tax? A question whose answer is not simple.However, let us see four important reasons for the taxation of imports.
Improves national competitiveness: it is good to remember that most of the products affected by the new tax are simple items, which are in any national store. Therefore, it avoids unfair competition, improving the internal economy, enabling more employment and economic development.
Combatting evasion: without taxation of products up to 50 dollars, many individuals in Brazil, bought in large quantities and in fractional orders, on foreign websites, to escape the import import import for purchases of more than US$ 50.00, which always existed. However, they sold here through legal entities. That is, tax evasion. The approved measure discourages this practice. To get an idea, the IRS recently reported that a single person had sent more than 16 million international packages to Brazil.
Encourages foreign investment: brazil is not just any country, in economic terms.We are the sixth largest economy in the world and investments here are always considered by international companies. Foreign marketplaces, therefore, would not like to lose a share already consolidated in our market. So, partnerships and investments can enter the radar of these organizations. An example is the partnership signed between Magalu and AliExpress in June 2024, which provides for an exchange of products between the two retailers.
Increases collection: the federal government has not yet disclosed the expectation of the next collection with the entry into force of the end of the exemption from purchases up to 50 dollars. But the Ministry of Finance reported that this projection will be released only in September. Anyway, it is consensus that the federal collection will increase.In times of fiscal rigor and government investment needs, the new tax is important.
