A US software company plans to enter the Brazilian market next quarter. It expects BRL 200,000 a month in subscriptions and will pay 30 local partners for implementation and support. The launch plan covers product, pricing and marketing, but nobody has decided yet how the money will move.
Before launch, decide how customers will pay (mainly Pix), how money will move in and out of Brazil, and whether you need a local entity or a provider. Then check the taxes and compliance rules that affect each flow.
Do you need a local entity to get paid in Brazil?
Not necessarily. A company can collect in reais through its own Brazilian entity and bank account, or through a provider in Brazil that collects and settles on its behalf.
The local entity gives full control but takes time: incorporation, a bank or payment account, accounting and local management. The provider route lets the company start selling while it decides whether a local structure makes sense. Many companies use both over time: a provider at launch, and a local entity once volume and local costs justify it.
For most launches, the entity decision can come after the first revenue, as long as the payment flow is set up through a provider that follows Brazil’s rules. Transfero’s guide on how to launch a fintech in Brazil covers the licensed-business side for companies that plan to operate locally.
Which payment methods will your customers expect?
Pix first. The instant payment system of the Central Bank of Brazil (BCB) processed 8.11 billion transactions in August 2026, a monthly record, according to BCB Pix statistics.
Cards still matter for higher-value purchases, often in monthly installments. Boletos, payment slips with a barcode, serve customers who prefer not to use cards and businesses that pay by invoice.
For a subscription business, the question is which method fits recurring charges. Transfero’s guide on how Pix works explains keys, QR codes and the main participants.
How will you move money in and out of Brazil?
Every payment that crosses the border is an FX operation. The framework is Law No. 14,286, of December 29, 2021, in force since December 31, 2022, and BCB Resolution No. 277, of December 31, 2022.
Two flows need a decision. Revenue collected in reais must be converted and sent abroad, or kept in Brazil if the company has local costs. Funds to pay local suppliers and partners must enter Brazil and be converted into reais.
From article 49 onward, Resolution 277 covers eFX providers, which handle cross-border payments on behalf of clients. Since February 2, 2026, it also covers operations with virtual assets, which matters for companies that plan to fund or settle in stablecoins.
In the opening example, the BRL 200,000 in monthly subscriptions is collected through Pix and converted abroad on an agreed cycle. In the other direction, the company funds its provider from abroad, and the provider pays the 30 partners in reais through Pix.
Planning a Brazil launch? Run your payment setup by our team.
Which taxes affect your payment flow?
On the payment side, the tax to plan for is IOF, Brazil’s federal tax on FX operations. The rates are set by Decree No. 6,306/2007, art. 15-B, as amended by Decree No. 12,499/2025.
Money entering Brazil pays 0.38% as a general rule. Money leaving Brazil falls under the general outflow rate of 3.5%, which includes payment for services. The tax is collected by the institution that closes the FX operation in Brazil, and it should appear in the provider’s quote.
The rate depends on the nature of each operation, so the classification of every flow should be agreed with the provider before launch. A wrong classification changes the tax and may require correcting the operation later.
Which compliance checks apply to you?
The provider reviews the company before the first payment, in a know-your-business check. Corporate documents, ownership, business model and expected volumes are the usual starting point.
Pix has its own rulebook, BCB Resolution No. 1, of August 12, 2020. The Special Return Mechanism (MED), created by BCB Resolution No. 103/2021 and updated by BCB Resolution No. 493/2025, lets institutions block and return funds linked to fraud.
For a merchant, MED means some payments can be reversed after the sale. The provider’s reports should show these returns so finance can reconcile them.
How will you pay local suppliers, staff and partners?
Suppliers and partners can be paid in reais through Pix. The company funds a provider abroad, the provider converts and sends one Pix per recipient, and finance receives one status file per batch.
Each recipient needs a Brazilian account at an institution that participates in Pix and a tax ID: CNPJ for companies, CPF for individuals. Missing or inconsistent IDs are the most common reason for a payment to stop.
Hiring staff in Brazil raises employment and tax questions that go beyond payments. They deserve a separate review with local advisors before the first hire.
What does a payments checklist for Brazil look like?
The table puts the decisions in order. Each row has a decision to make and a question that settles it.
Area | Decision | Question that settles it
|
|---|---|---|
Structure | Local entity or provider | Do you need to start selling before a local entity exists? |
Collection | Pix, cards, boletos | Which methods do your customers use for this purchase? |
Inbound and outbound | Conversion cycle and currency | Where will the reais go after collection? |
Taxes | IOF classification | Is each flow classified before the first payment? |
Compliance | KYB and MED handling | Who on your team owns returns and reconciliation? |
Payouts | Local suppliers and partners | Do you have the tax ID and Pix key of every recipient? |
How does Transfero help companies launch in Brazil?
Transfero’s Banking as a Service (BaaS) lets companies move money in Brazil without becoming a bank, on a licensed payment institution structure. Its cross-border payments run on the Transfero Payments Network (TPN), which connects banking rails, blockchain networks and liquidity providers.
Collect and send BRL funds through Pix, via Transfero’s banking infrastructure
Banking rails without setting up a local entity or obtaining a local license
Predictable 24/7 payouts across multiple countries, with more than 180 payout markets
Launch within a few weeks for most clients
The platform processed more than 9.8 million transactions in 2025.
Questions to ask before your launch date
Who on your team owns the Brazil payment setup?
Which provider will collect and pay out in reais, and how does it follow Resolution 277?
Has each flow been classified for IOF?
How will revenue reach your treasury abroad, and on what cycle?
Is your KYB package ready for the provider’s review?
Have you planned the first payout batch to local partners?
Talk to Transfero about payments for your Brazil launch.
Frequently asked questions
Can I launch in Brazil without a local entity?
On the payments side, yes. A provider in Brazil can collect reais from your customers, convert them and settle your company abroad, and pay local partners on your behalf. Other parts of the launch, such as hiring staff, may require a separate local review.
How long does it take to start accepting Pix?
It depends on the provider’s onboarding, your KYB package and the integration with your checkout. At Transfero, most clients can launch within a few weeks. Prepare corporate documents and the payment flow in advance to shorten the process.
What is IOF?
IOF is Brazil’s federal tax on FX operations, set by Decree No. 6,306/2007. Money entering Brazil pays 0.38% as a general rule, and money leaving Brazil pays 3.5% in general, including payment for services. The rate depends on how each operation is classified.
Do I need a Brazilian bank account?
Not if you work through a provider. The provider holds the local accounts, collects and pays in reais and settles your company abroad. If you set up a Brazilian entity later, it can open its own account and take over part of the flow.
