Brazilian small businesses are preparing for significant changes with the Tax Reform. According to the Omie Small Business Survey, a study by Omie, a cloud-based management (ERP) platform, recently conducted with 285 CNPJ leaders opting for the Simples Nacional, 65% of those surveyed, including CEOs, directors, partners, managers, and entrepreneurs, believe that the new rules will directly affect their businesses.
While 26% of respondents do not know how to assess the impact of the reform, only 9% believe it will not influence their daily life. For economist Felipe Beraldi, manager of Indicators and Economic Studies at Omie, the changes bring opportunities but also challenges. Especially in understanding the changes and the deadlines for adaptation.
"The research showed that 59% of entrepreneurs know that the main change will be the creation of the Value Added Tax (VAT) and the elimination of tax cumulativity," explains Beraldi. The VAT aims to unify five taxes – ICMS, ISS, IPI, PIS, and Cofins – into a single charge, contributing to greater transparency and simplification of collection.
Despite the expectation of simplification, Beraldi warns that the process will be complex. "Companies need to start preparing and adapting to the changes. The sooner they understand the new rules of the Reform, the easier it will be to reassess cash flow, working capital, tax regime, supply chain, and prices," he states.
The transition to the new tax system will be gradual. The implementation begins in 2026 and continues until 2033, when the Tax Reform will be fully in effect. During this period, there will be a coexistence regime between the current system and the new one, which will require the attention of managers and their accountants.
“Although the reform promises to simplify tax management in the long term and reduce distortions, in the short term, it is certain that this duplication will generate a large increase in complexity, which will demand significant changes in the internal processes of any business, especially small companies”, says Marcelo Lombardo, co-founder and CEO of Omie.
In addition to the challenges, the reform can represent a great opportunity for accounting professionals, whose roles become even more strategic during the implementation of the new rules. Not by chance, the survey revealed that 75% of small businesses consider the accountant to be essential at this moment. The research also reinforces the need for more effective communication to ensure that reform updates reach entrepreneurs clearly and quickly.
With the Tax Reform in effect, small businesses, which represent 99% of Brazilian companies and are responsible for more than 27% of GDP and over 70% of formal employment, will face a challenging adaptation period. The success of this transition will largely depend on the ability of SMEs to adapt to the rules and the strategic guidance of accountants.
65% of small businesses foresee impacts of Tax Reform
