This blog was last updated on September 2, 2025
Whether the Tax Reform will simplify taxation in Brazil is a common question among many.
Since Congress approved the tax reform – the first in more than 30 years – it has been reaffirmed that the ultimate objective of this change will be to simplify and modernize the country’s tax system. One of the main indications for this is the unification of four taxes into just two (IBS and CBS), an action that gives rise to the dual Value Added Tax (VAT), with federal, state and municipal rates.
In addition, a specific tax was introduced for products harmful to health or the environment. Overall, this change aims to reduce red tape and promote economic growth by facilitating tax compliance, both for companies and citizens.
But in the short term, will it be more complex?
The reform will indeed simplify the system in the long term, but in the short and medium term, it is expected to bring significant implementation and adaptation challenges. Companies will need to prepare to operate in a hybrid tax environment for several years.
Therefore, the transition will be gradual:
- System coexistence period (2026-2032): companies will need to manage the old and new systems simultaneously.
- Definition of the rates: the IBS and CBS rates are not yet defined, which creates uncertainty.
- Technological and operational adaptation: it will be necessary to update accounting and tax systems, which may increase compliance costsin the short term.
A necessary transition to resolve complexity
The country’s tax system has become more complex over the years, making it one of the most complicated in the world. This is because it includes a variety of overlapping taxes at the federal, state, and municipal levels, such as the PIS (Social Integration Program), ICMS (Tax on Circulation of Goods and Services), COFINS (Contribution to Social Security Financing), IPI (Tax on Industrialized Products) and ISS (Tax on Services).
Each of these taxes has different rules, deadlines, and calculation bases, which creates a large administrative burden for companies, especially larger ones, that operate in different regions.
In addition, in the current system, the interpretation of the rules varies according to the jurisdiction, which causes tax conflicts and increases the risk of sanctions. This complexity encouraged tax evasion and compromised the competitiveness of Brazilian companies in the domestic and global markets.
Unification of taxes in a dual VAT
The reform addresses this complexity by unifying four taxes into a single dual Value Added Tax (VAT), comprised of two taxes:
- Contribution on Goods and Services (CBS): administered at the federal level, it replaces the PIS and COFINS.
- Goods and Services Tax (IBS): administered at the state and municipal levels, it replaces the ICMS and the ISS.
This unification will significantly reduce the amount of declarations and payments required from companies, simplifying the fulfillment of tax obligations. In addition, by standardizing the calculation bases and tax credit rules, one of the greatest challenges of the current system, it will minimize divergent interpretations and conflicts with local tax authorities.
Clearer tax obligations
Another relevant aspect of the reform is the greater predictability of the tax burden. With standardized tax rules and centralized tax administration, companies will be able to predict their tax obligations with greater precision, bringing positive impacts to their financial operations.
Fewer tax conflicts
One of the biggest problems with the previous system was the large amount of tax litigation due to the ambiguous interpretation of tax regulations. With dual VAT, homogeneous calculation bases and simpler tax rules, a significant reduction in conflicts between companies and the tax administration is expected.
While implementing these changes requires adjustments and adaptation on the part of companies and tax authorities, the long-term benefits will be significant.
In the context of the reform, as determined by CF/88 and LC 214/2025, the Steering Committee will be the body responsible for the inspection, collection and distribution of revenues, playing a fundamental role in the implementation of the new taxes, the unification of ancillary obligations and the implementation of Split Payment.
How can Sovos help?
With more than 40 years of tax experience, Sovos has a global team of more than 100 regulatory specialists, always attentive to new requirements and regulatory changes. This ensures that your solutions are quickly adapted when needed, keeping customers informed in advance.
In addition, Sovos offers specialized solutions, such as Tax rules, an advanced calculation engine that automates tax management in the ERP. With tax rules that are always updated, it validates taxes to avoid human or systemic errors, ensuring full compliance. That way, your company can face regulatory changes with confidence, covering all taxes and simulating different scenarios.
If your company needs a trusted specialist to help you deal with this important reform and use it to your advantage, contact us as soon as possible and we will be happy to help you navigate the waters of tax reform.