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Beyond the increase of the ceiling to R$ 130 thousand, the debate about MEI included the creation of an annual trigger for inflation, the possibility of hiring another employee, the risk of returning to informality, and a measure to reduce costs for small businesses affected by changes in work schedules.
The MEI returned to the center of the debate in the Chamber of Deputies with the defense of an automatic annual adjustment of the revenue ceiling. The proposal gained strength this Friday (26), during a regional seminar held in Fortaleza.
Representatives of the productive sector of Ceará argued that the limit of R$ 81 thousand has been outdated since 2018. The discussion is part of the analysis of Complementary Bill 108/21.
The meeting was the fifth regional seminar promoted by the special committee responsible for the topic. The stage brought together industry, commerce, and service federations, parliamentarians, and microentrepreneurs.
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MEI may have an automatic rule against new lag
The main defense presented at the meeting was the creation of a permanent correction trigger. The idea is to prevent the MEI ceiling from always depending on the approval of new laws to be updated.
The president of the Federation of Commerce of Goods, Services, and Tourism of the State of Ceará, Luís Fernando Bittencourt, stated that the value of R$ 81 thousand does not keep up with the reality of small businesses.
He recalled that the MEI was created in 2008, but the annual limit has been stagnant since 2018. By the recomposition of the accumulated inflation from 2018 to 2025, estimated by him at 45%, the ceiling should reach R$ 121 thousand.
The same line was defended by the director of the Federation of Industries of the State of Ceará, Lauro Filho. For him, the official inflation that guides economic policy should automatically update these limits.
Informality worries entrepreneurs
The lack of a permanent rule was also pointed out as a risk for the formalization of small businesses. The microentrepreneur Everton stated that the absence of predictable updates can push workers back to informality.
He advocated for a broader immediate increase, from R$ 81,000 to R$ 160,000, equivalent to at least 100%. He also demanded the creation of an annual trigger, at least for inflation.
The central concern is that revenue growth, even when it only keeps up with costs and inflation, may cause the entrepreneur to exceed the allowed limit. Without regular adjustment, compliance may become more difficult.
Rapporteur talks about a ceiling of R$ 130,000 and one more employee
Rapporteur of PLP 108/21, Deputy Jorge Goetten informed that he intends to include in the report a mechanism for automatic adjustment of the MEI revenue ceiling. He also stated that there is an agreement with the government to raise the limit to R$ 130,000.
Another change considered settled is the authorization for the hiring of one more employee by the individual micro-entrepreneur. Today, the proposal is still under review in the special committee.
Goetten announced a measure aimed at small businesses in light of possible changes in working hours and schedules. The report should provide for a two-year exemption from social security contributions for employees hired in this adaptation.
The update of the six tiers of the Simples Nacional, however, is still under negotiation. Suggestions from regional seminars will be analyzed before the final version of the report.
The seminar in Fortaleza was held at the request of Deputies André Figueiredo and Luiz Gastão. The cycle has already passed through Porto Alegre, Florianópolis, São Paulo, and Belo Horizonte. On Monday (29), the debate arrives in Rio de Janeiro.
After the report is completed, the text still needs to be voted on by the special committee before being submitted to the Plenary of the Chamber.
The proposal affects small businesses, workers formalized as MEI, and companies that depend on predictable rules to grow. Do you think the ceiling should automatically rise with inflation every year, or should Congress decide each adjustment on a case-by-case basis? Leave your opinion in the comments.
With information from Agência Câmara.
