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The New Import Tax from Shein and Aliexpress Changed the Way to Shop Abroad; Understand How the Technology of the Remessa Conforme Program Works to Calculate and Charge the 20% Tax Even Before Shipping.
The way millions of Brazilians shop on international websites like Shein, Shopee, and AliExpress has changed forever. The intense debate about the “blouse tax” has resulted in new legislation that is now in full effect. But beyond politics, the big change lies in the technology and logistics that operate behind the scenes of your purchase.
Our goal is to explain the engineering of the process: how the new system works in practice so that you, the consumer, understand what you are paying, how the calculation is made, and what happens to your order from the click in the cart to the arrival at your door, without surprises at customs.
What Changed in Practice? Goodbye, Exemption. Hello, Tax in the Cart
Until recently, the rules were different. For purchases of up to 50 dollars, on participating sites in the Remessa Conforme program, only the 17% ICMS tax applied. For companies that were not part of the program, taxation was a kind of lottery. Now, the rule is clear and applies to everyone: the end of the 50-dollar exemption for federal tax is a reality.
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In practice, all purchases of up to US$ 50 at retailers eligible in the Remessa Conforme program are now taxed at 20% federal Import Tax, in addition to state ICMS charges. The fundamental difference is that all this calculation is now done transparently and automatically, and is presented directly in your shopping cart before you finalize the payment.
The Technology Behind Remessa Conforme: How Does the Federal Revenue Know What You Bought?
The magic behind the instant charge is the Remessa Conforme program. It is essentially a large information technology system that connects international retailers, shipping companies, and the Federal Revenue of Brazil. It operates based on real-time data exchange.
When you add a product to the cart and provide your CPF, the retailer’s website instantly communicates with the Federal Revenue system through an API (Application Programming Interface). Product information (description, value, weight) is sent, and the Revenue’s system validates the data and returns the exact tax to be charged. It is this IT infrastructure that allows the final amount, including all taxes, to appear on your payment screen.
How 20% Became the Final Price of Your Purchase
Understanding how to calculate import tax is crucial to avoid being shocked by the final amount. The formula, which includes the 17% ICMS, is a little more complex than just adding 20%. Let’s go through a practical example:
Imagine a product that costs R$ 80, with R$ 20 shipping.
Base Value: the initial value of your purchase is R$ 100 (product + shipping).
Import Tax: this value is subject to the new rate. R$ 100 x 20% = R$ 20.
ICMS Calculation Base: the ICMS applies to the value of the goods plus the import tax itself. R$ 100 + R$ 20 = R$ 120.
Final Calculation: to include the 17% ICMS (“inside” calculation), the formula is Calculation Base / (1 - ICMS Rate). That is: R$ 120 / (1 - 0.17), which is R$ 120 / 0.83.
Final Price: the total amount you will pay for the purchase will be approximately R$ 144.58.
And The Delivery? Does the New Tax Make Customs Clearance Faster?
This is the main counterpart of the new system. By having all international purchases taxed and taxes paid in advance, the logistical process upon arrival in Brazil changes completely. Your order, now with all declared information and taxes settled, enters the so-called “green channel” of customs inspection.
The government’s promise, along with carriers, is for much faster clearance, as the package no longer needs to be stopped for manual analysis, value verification, and tax guide issuance. The process, which used to take weeks, can now be automated in just a few hours. Although the cost has increased, predictability and speed in delivery are the great benefits of implementing the Remessa Conforme new rules.
Have you made any purchases under the new rule? How was your experience with the calculation and payment of the tax? Share with us in the comments!
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