The bill would reduce the corporate income tax rate, establish a withholding tax on dividends and strengthen the rules on the disguised distribution of profits. Taxpayers should continue to monitor the bill’s progress as it moves through the Senate and determine its possible impact on their operations.
On 1 September 2021, Brazil’s House of Deputies approved (398 - 77 votes) Bill 2,337, which would reduce the corporate income tax rate and establish a 15% withholding tax on dividends as part of a comprehensive reform to the Brazilian tax system. The approved version includes changes proposed by taxpayers and members of Congress to the original draft presented in June. For more information on the original draft, see EY Global Tax Alert, Brazilian Government proposes changes to corporate income tax system as second phase of comprehensive tax reform, 28 June 2021.
Next, the bill will be sent to the Senate. If approved by the Senate, it goes to the President, who can then sanction or veto it, in total or partially.
If enacted, the bill would:
The bill also includes provisions on indirect tax incentives, the taxation of individuals, and the treatment of investment funds.
The legislative process usually takes time in Brazil, and the current wording of the bill may still be amended in the next steps of this process. If the bill is approved before the end of October 2021, it would be effective 1 January 2022. That being the case, taxpayers should evaluate whether they need to act before year end in light of these expected changes. As part of their evaluation, they should consider waiting periods and other aspects that could prevent a smooth implementation of changes in structure/activities.
This bill is the second phase of Brazil’s comprehensive tax reform. For information on the first phase, see EY Global Tax Alerts, Brazilian Federal Government has announced comprehensive tax reform to be implemented in 2020, dated 5 December 2019 and Brazilian Government proposes new federal VAT as first phase of comprehensive tax reform, dated 22 July 2020.
For additional information with respect to this Alert, please contact the following:
For a full listing of contacts and email addresses, please click on the Tax News Update: Global Edition (GTNU) version of this Alert.