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End of federal tax reorganizes Remessa Conforme, reduces part of the cost of international purchases and maintains the debate on ICMS, revenue collection and protection of national industry
A major change in e-commerce was announced by the federal government, attracting national attention. The so-called “blusinhas tax” (small clothing items tax) has been zeroed for international purchases up to US$50 made by individuals within the Remessa Conforme program. The decision eliminates the 20% federal import tax but maintains the state ICMS charge. This move reorganizes the rules for international orders, reduces part of the cost for consumers, and reignites the debate among foreign platforms, national retail, and public accounts.
End of tax changes purchases up to US$50
The alteration will be formalized by a Provisional Measure signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and regulated by an ordinance from the Ministry of Finance. The new rule comes into effect after publication in the Official Gazette of the Union, according to the government. The Civil House’s expectation was that this publication would occur this Tuesday (12). Minister Miriam Belchior stated that all purchases up to US$50 for individuals will have the federal tax zeroed. However, the state ICMS will continue to be charged on these operations.
ICMS continues to weigh on the final price
The decision does not change the rules of the state tax that applies to international purchases. In April, ten states raised the ICMS rate from 17% to 20% for this type of operation. Therefore, even without the federal tax, consumers will still find taxation in the final price of orders. The change, therefore, reduces part of the burden charged on low-value purchases, but does not create a total exemption. This point maintains doubts about the real impact of the measure on the pockets of those who buy from foreign platforms.
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Collection had started in August 2024
The tax was created after approval by the National Congress and presidential sanction. In August 2024, the government began charging a 20% import tax on international purchases up to US$50. Until then, these purchases were exempt for companies registered in Remessa Conforme. The measure emerged in response to requests from segments of the national industry, which claimed unfair competition with imported products sold on digital platforms. The increase in online purchases during the pandemic also strengthened this debate.
Government gives up record revenue
The removal of the federal tax eliminates an important source of revenue for the Union. According to the Federal Revenue Secretariat, the government collected R$1.78 billion from international orders just between January and April 2026. This amount represents a 25% increase over the same period of the previous year, when revenue totaled R$1.43 billion. In 2025, the Federal Revenue collected R$5 billion from this tax, a new record. The revenue helped the economic team in its pursuit of the year’s fiscal target.
Productive sector defended maintenance of the tax
Representatives of the productive sector, trade, and retail defended the continuation of the charge. In a manifesto, they stated that the tax reduced the tax disparity between international e-commerce platforms and national companies. Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin also defended the measure as an instrument to protect the Brazilian industry of low-value products. On the other hand, consumers criticized the tax for making popular items more expensive and reducing the attractiveness of small-value international purchases.
Fiscal and political debate returns to center stage
Last week, the Minister of Finance, Dario Durigan, stated that the end of the “blusinhas tax” was under discussion within the government. He declared that there was no taboo on the subject, as long as the advances of Remessa Conforme were preserved. The opposition also began to bring the issue back into public debate. Thus, the decision occurs amidst political, fiscal, and economic pressures on e-commerce. The end of the federal charge changes the scenario but keeps the discussion about competition, revenue collection, and taxation open.
The future of international shopping
The new rule tends to alleviate part of the cost of international purchases up to US$50, but the final effect will still depend on the state ICMS. The permanence of this tax shows that consumers will not have complete exemption on foreign orders. At the same time, the government loses billions in revenue that helped public accounts. The productive sector, in turn, remains concerned about competition from foreign platforms.
Given this scenario, what should weigh more: consumer relief or the tax protection advocated by national industry?
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