'Blouse tax': what changed with the end of the tax on international purchases The number of international orders soared after the end of the so-called blouse tax — which taxed purchases worth less than US$50 at a rate of 20% with import tax. According to information from the Federal Revenue Service, the total number of international remittances received in June this year, the first full month without taxation, was 28.36 million. This represents: growth of 118% over June 2025 (13.02 million orders). increase of 72% over April 2026, the last month without charges (16.51 million). an increase of 84% over the average for the first four months of this year (15.42 million remittances). The "blouse tax" was rejected by a large part of Brazilian consumers for making popular, low-value products more expensive and reducing the attractiveness of international platforms. Critics also argued that tourists traveling internationally had an advantage by not paying the tax on a certain quota of purchases when returning to the country. Entities speak out The Institute for Retail Development (IDV), which brings together Brazilian retailers, such as Americanas, Dafiti, Centauro, Casas Bahia, Lojas Renner and Magazine Luiza, among others, reported that a survey carried out with the market indicates that the results for the month of June should show a decline in the volume of retail sales in some sectors due to the World Cup. "However, the drop in sales should also be recorded in other sectors due to the significant increase in sales through foreign online electronic platforms, which have the benefit of zero Import Tax, which in a second moment should reflect even more in the reduction of employment and future investments", added the IDV. In June, the Parliamentary Fronts for Commerce and Services, for the Business Environment, for Competitive Brazil and for the Defense of Intellectual Property and Combating Piracy, among others, released a statement on the topic. "Defending tax equality does not mean defending privileges. It means ensuring that all economic agents are subject to the same rules and contribute equally to the country's development. This is precisely why we defend a simple, understandable and fair principle: If you download it for a foreigner, you have to download it for a Brazilian", says the document.
'Tax on blouses': international orders soar after the end of import tax collection
'Blouse tax': what changed with the end of the tax on international purchases The number of international orders soared after the end of the so-called blouse tax — which taxed purchases worth less than US$50 at a rate...
Reproduction/TV Globo The Brazilian Mobility and Technology Association (Amobitec), which brings together technology companies that provide services and importers, such as Alibaba, Amazon and Shein, among others, assessed the increase in low-value imports after the revocation of the tax on blouses as "natural and expected". The entity emphasizes, however, that this movement of greater demand must be analyzed with "caution". He says that the anticipation of purchases was expected given the tax exemption, but that, according to experts, a window of at least six months is necessary to assess whether the current growth will be sustained. "The exemption from federal tax is an advance towards the democratization of consumption, as it promotes social inclusion, reduces inequalities and moves the economy (...) The data, in general, highlights the disproportionate impact of taxation on lower-income consumers, shows the complementarity between platforms and Brazilian retail, in addition to reinforcing the importance of ensuring legal security and predictability for international e-commerce", added Amobitec. Dispute in Congress and in Justice The end of the charge was announced in mid-May by the economic team through a Provisional Measure. Despite the end of the import tax, the states maintained their taxation, through ICMS, between 17% and 20%. This charge remains valid. The revocation of the fee was made through a Provisional Measure, which has the force of law as soon as it is published in the "Official Gazette of the Union". However, to remain in force after 120 days of validity, it will have to be approved by the National Congress, which can maintain, block or change the measure. Because of this, national producers and importers are already moving to the National Congress, and even to the courts, to defend their interests. "More than 60 days after the publication of the MP that zeroed out taxation, the National Congress has not yet concluded its vote. The deadline for approval expires in September and, if this does not happen, the charge could be reinstated", recalled Amobitec, which defends that Congress moves forward with the approval of the agenda, deciding to definitively cancel the tax on blouses. The IDV, in turn, defends the reinstatement of the import tax. At the same time, the National Confederation of Commerce of Goods, Services and Tourism (CNC) filed, in May, a lawsuit with the Federal Supreme Court (STF) against the end of the tax on blouses to restore the "competitive balance in the Brazilian market". Regardless of the decision of the National Congress and the Courts, taxation on orders worth less than US$50 will return in 2027 through the Contribution on Goods and Services (CBS) — a federal tax created as part of the consumption tax reform. The rate to be charged, however, has not yet been defined. It will be fixed by December this year. Calculation by Roit consultancy points to a rate of 9.43% in 2027. 'Tax for blouses' will return in 2027, but with a different tax
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