Government Eliminates Import Tax On Information Technology And Telecommunications Products!

Government Zeroes Import Tax on IT and Telecommunication Products. This Is the Second Measure Taken for the Sector This Year.

The Executive Committee of the Foreign Trade Chamber announced last Monday (25) that the rates of the Import Tax on IT and Telecommunication Goods have been reduced to zero percent. The import tax measure was published in the Official Gazette, through Gecex Resolution No. 521.

Import Tax on IT and Telecommunication Products Will Affect the Entire Sector

The decision was made based on Decree No. 11,428 of March 2, 2023 and takes into account the resolution from the 207th Ordinary Meeting, held on September 19, 2023.

The government’s focus with the exemption of the import tax for IT and telecommunication products is to promote access to cutting-edge information and communication technologies, fostering the development of the sector in the country.

According to the guidelines established in Gecex Resolution No. 512, dated August 16, 2023, there has been a reconfiguration of the Ex-tariffs originally listed in Annex I of Gecex Resolution No. 323, issued on April 4 of last year.

In this process, some were removed from the annex, while others were incorporated into Annex II of the aforementioned Resolution.

This decision will be important for companies in the area, consumers, and the economy in general, strengthening the country’s position in the international technology landscape. Dozens of products will benefit from the zero import tax on IT and telecommunication products. Among the main ones are:

• Printed circuit boards;
• Data processing units;
• High-voltage signal transmission equipment;
• Barcode scanners;
• Starwheel scissor wheels for paper alignment;
• Paper guides;
• Devices for measuring RF signals.

This Is Not the Government’s First Measure This Year

In May of this year, the government had already announced the total exemption of import taxes for telecommunications equipment, including Wi-Fi 6 routers. It is worth noting that the mentioned Wi-Fi routers do not belong to the 6E standard, which operates in the 6 GHz band licensed by Anatel. These devices are in the Wi-Fi 6 category, standard 802.11ax, using the common 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.

The measure also brings benefits for high-definition video conferencing terminals, including telepresence technology, with video resolution of at least 1,920 x 1,080 px. These terminals may include IP phones, touch-sensitive control centers, microphones, high-definition cameras, speakers, and others.

The Gecex resolution covers fiber terminals in the XGS-PON standard, which enables download and upload speeds of up to 10 Gbps. Switches, modems, sensors for agricultural solutions, and screens for connected education have also been included in the exemption of the import tax on IT and telecommunication products.

Learn More About the Items Benefiting from the Exemption

Among the items that will benefit from the exemption of the import tax on IT and telecommunication products are:

Printed Circuit Boards

Printed circuit boards are the brain of many electronic devices. The reduction of tax on these components can foster innovation and local manufacturing of electronic products.

Data Processing Units

These units are essential for automatic data processing machines. The tax exemption can drive the update and expansion of data processing infrastructures in the country.

Barcode Scanners

Barcode scanners are used in many sectors, from retail to logistics. The reduction of tax on these devices can contribute to improvements in operational efficiency.