Lula to Announce End of Brazil’s Blusinhas Tax Wednesday
Brazil · BUSINESS
Key Facts
- —What happened Lula will announce the end of the blusinhas tax on Wednesday.
- —How big The 20% import duty on parcels up to US$50 has been zero since May.
- —The real story The announcement confirms a suspension already in force, not a new law.
- —The catch Congress has not yet turned the suspension into permanent law.
- —Who it hits Shoppers buying cheap online parcels from Asian platforms.
- —What comes next Congress must approve the provisional measure to make it permanent.
The move confirms a suspension already in force since May, but Congress has yet to turn it into permanent law.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he will announce the end of Brazil’s blusinhas tax on Wednesday 26 August 2026. After a meeting with Senate President Davi Alcolumbre.
The blusinhas tax, which means ‘little blouses tax’. Is the nickname for the import duty on cheap online parcels from Asian shopping platforms.
What Is the Blusinhas Tax?
The blusinhas tax is a 20 per cent import duty on international parcels worth up to US$50. In addition, it applies to purchases made through the Remessa Conforme programme.
It is named after the low-cost clothing that dominates those orders. Collection began in August 2024, after approval by Brazil’s National Congress.
Before that, parcels up to US$50 sent to individuals by registered companies were exempt from import duty. The blusinhas tax applies to parcels sent through Remessa Conforme, a federal programme for registered retailers.
In addition, this programme collects taxes up front on parcels sent to Brazilian shoppers.
The Announcement Is Scheduled for Wednesday
In an interview with Record TV, Lula said: ‘I was with my friend (Davi) Alcolumbre. However, on Wednesday there is a meeting with him.
‘ Moreover, we will announce the end of the blusinhas tax, for people who like buying small things for 50 dollars. The announcement is expected to be a political act confirming the measure already in force, rather than a new legal instrument.
As of Monday 24 August 2026, the announcement has not yet happened. Lula said he will announce the end of the blusinhas tax after meeting with Senate President Davi Alcolumbre.
Meanwhile, the announcement is due on Wednesday 26 August 2026, which is still in the future.
The Tax Is Already at Zero
In fact, the 20 per cent charge has been zero since May 2026. It was zeroed by a provisional measure signed by Lula and a Finance Ministry order.
Both were published in the official gazette on Tuesday 12 May 2026. The exemption came into force after publication, so purchases stopped paying the tax from Wednesday 13 May 2026.
Folha de S. Paulo describes the charge as suspended rather than abolished.
The 20 per cent charge was zeroed by a provisional measure and a Finance Ministry order published on 12 May 2026. As a result, the exemption took effect from 13 May 2026, so shoppers no longer pay the duty.
What Is a Provisional Measure?
A medida provisória, or provisional measure, is a decree with the force of law that Brazil’s president can issue immediately. It takes effect on publication but expires unless Congress converts it into law within a limited period.
The measure is still travelling through Congress, and the government is in a hurry to approve it. O Globo reported that the government wants the provisional measure to end the collection of the tax.
A provisional measure takes effect immediately upon publication, but it must be converted into law by Congress. However, the measure zeroing the blusinhas tax is still travelling through Congress, and the government wants it approved.
Who Is Davi Alcolumbre?
Davi Alcolumbre is the president of Brazil’s Senate, the upper house of the National Congress. Lula said he will meet with Alcolumbre on Wednesday before making the announcement.
However, the meeting’s location, time, and other attendees are not known. The announcement is scheduled for Wednesday 26 August 2026.
Davi Alcolumbre is the president of Brazil’s Senate, the upper house of the National Congress. In addition, Lula said he will meet with Alcolumbre on Wednesday before making the announcement.
What Changes in Practice
As a result. International purchases up to US$50 by individuals now move from a 20 per cent federal import duty to a federal rate of zero.
State-level ICMS and other taxes were not altered by the measure. ICMS, or Imposto sobre Circulação de Mercadorias e Serviços, is a state-level tax on the movement of goods and services.
It remains separate from the federal import duty. International purchases up to US$50 by individuals now face a zero federal import duty.
However, state-level ICMS and other taxes remain unchanged by this measure.
Betting Regulator Opens Proceedings
Meanwhile, in a separate story, the SPA, Brazil’s betting regulator, has 40 administrative sanctioning proceedings under way. This follows the suspension of 14 sports betting websites, according to CNN Brasil citing the Ministry of Finance.
An administrative sanctioning proceeding is a regulator’s formal case against a company that can end in a fine or a licence penalty. In fact, it is not a criminal prosecution or a court case.
The SPA’s 40 sanctioning proceedings follow the suspension of 14 betting websites, according to CNN Brasil. Meanwhile, these proceedings are separate from the import tax story and involve different figures.
Inspections Target Player Protection
The SPA opened 102 inspection proceedings against 48 operators. In addition, these examine evidence of irregularities in gambler self-exclusion, prevention of participation by minors, gambling addiction, advertising, and user registration.
These are separate from the 40 sanctioning proceedings. Gambling addiction is known as ‘ludopatia’ in Portuguese, and it is one of the harms the regulator is required to police.
Between May 2025 and May 2026, 39 administrative proceedings were concluded and became final. The 102 inspection proceedings against 48 operators focus on player-protection mechanisms.
In addition, these are distinct from the 40 sanctioning proceedings, and both are part of the regulator’s enforcement efforts.
Broader Betting Enforcement
In the first year of Brazil’s regulated betting market, the SPA recorded more than 25,000 illegal sites blocked. Overall, this is according to a Ministry of Finance official news item from January 2026.
At that time, 80 proceedings were in progress for the application of penalties. The betting cases are separate from the import tax story.
The 40 proceedings figure comes from CNN Brasil’s report, not from a direct ministry notice. In the first year of the regulated market, the SPA blocked more than 25,000 illegal sites, according to a ministry news item.
Meanwhile, 80 proceedings were in progress for penalties at that time, and the betting cases remain separate from the import tax.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the blusinhas tax?
The blusinhas tax is a 20 per cent import duty on international parcels worth up to US$50. Applied to purchases made through the Remessa Conforme programme.
Has the blusinhas tax been ended?
The tax rate has been zero since May 2026, when a provisional measure took effect. However, Congress has not yet converted the measure into law, so the charge is suspended rather than abolished.
When will Lula announce the end of the blusinhas tax?
Lula said he will announce the end of the blusinhas tax on Wednesday 26 August 2026. After a meeting with Senate President Davi Alcolumbre.
What is the Remessa Conforme programme?
Remessa Conforme, literally ‘Compliant Remittance’. Is a Brazilian federal programme under which foreign online retailers register with the tax authority and collect taxes up front on parcels sent to Brazilian shoppers.
Connected Coverage
Sources: G1; Folha de S.Paulo; O Globo; CNN Brasil; Record TV; Ministério da Fazenda; Secretaria de Prêmios e Apostas; Banco Central do Brasil.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error
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