A AliExpress e a Shopee informaram que a cobrança do imposto de 20% sobre compras de até US$50 começa neste sábado (27/7), while Shein will maintain the start date for August 1st, according to the new rules of the Federal Government. This taxation was decided at the end of June, quando o presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sancionou o Projeto Mover (PL 914/24). The project, which aims to encourage the production of less polluting items with an investment of R$19,3 billion in five years, also ends the tax exemption for international purchases up to US$ 50
Starting from August 1st, international purchases of up to US$50 will have a rate of 20%. For values between US$50 and US$3,000, the rate will be 60%, with a discount of US$20 on the final amount. Part of this comes from the survey conducted by the Federal Revenue Service, where it highlighted that, in 2023, Brazilians spent over R$6 billion on purchases from foreign e-commerce sites.
According to the data from Nuvemshop, released by the portal Consumidor Moderno, small and medium-sized online retail companies in Brazil generated R$2 billion in the first six months of 2024. The number represents a growth of 33% compared to the same period in 2023, when the revenue was R$1,5 billion. Between January and June 2024, 31 were sold,8 billion products, an increase of almost 26% compared to the previous year. The data highlights the strength of local e-commerce, even with the new taxation measures
According to the president of the Federation of Trade Associations of São Paulo (FCDLSP), Mauricio Stainoff, the sanction of the taxation of international purchases is a measure that creates a certain balance in national and international sales, but it is still not the solution. "The decision generates a partial correction regarding the balance of consumption between domestic and international products". The producer and the national retailer still face a very high tax burden for the competitiveness of their products to truly stand out?”, questioned
Another point raised by the president of FCDL-SP is regarding job creation. "It is also necessary for us to pay attention to people regarding the generation of national jobs". When we buy a foreign product, consequently we are encouraging the job chain in other countries. Now, when we buy a national product, "the generation of jobs becomes local", finalizes
It is still worth importing
To decide if it is still advantageous to buy from international sites, it is important to consider several factors. Stainoff highlights the need to assess the final price of the product after taxation, the available budget, the availability of products and their alternatives in the national market, and the preference of consumers. This analysis will determine whether the cost-benefit still justifies the importation compared to national options
Economic impact
The new tax rate is likely to impact low-income consumers more, what requires strategies to minimize these effects and ensure access to products at fairer and more balanced prices. The specialist points out that, despite the challenges, this tax change can create opportunities for local businesses to compete more fairly with imported products. For consumers, price research becomes essential to find the best deals and adapt to the new market reality
