The Senate approved on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, a bill that cuts federal fiscal benefits by 10% and raises taxes on online bets, fintechs, and interest on own capital. The measure unlocks about R$ 22.45 billion for the 2026 Budget, avoiding cuts in spending and parliamentary amendments. The text heads to presidential sanction after a 62-6 vote.
The bill was approved by the Chamber of Deputies in the early hours of December 17, 2025, and reached the Senate the same day, passing without changes to speed up the process. The 10% cut applies to benefits on taxes like PIS/Pasep, Cofins, IRPJ, CSLL, Import Tax, IPI, and employer social security contributions, but only for presumed profit regime companies with annual gross revenue over R$ 5 million. Exemptions include payroll, industrial policies for information technology and semiconductors, Manaus Free Trade Zone, basic food basket, and programs like Minha Casa Minha Vida.
To offset, the text raises taxation on fixed-odds bets from 12% to 13% in 2026, 14% in 2027, and 15% in 2028, with half the funds to social security and half to health. The government initially proposed 18% but backed down after parliamentary pressure against boosting the illegal market. Interest on own capital (JCP) rises from 15% to 17.5% withholding income tax. CSLL for fintechs and credit societies increases from 15% to 17.5% until 2027 and 20% from 2028; for other financial institutions, from 9% to 12% then 15%.
Senate rapporteur Randolfe Rodrigues (PT-AP) defended the review: 'We must not forget that such tax advantage [...] will be delivered to specific small groups at the cost of reducing revenue that would be used for other public policies.' Affected sectors protested. CNI criticized the linear cut for undermining innovation and regional development, stating 'the productive sector will pay, once again, for public accounts adjustment.' Reginaldo Arcuri of FarmaBrasil Group warned of cost increases on 65% of medicines. Zetta, representing fintechs, regretted the penalty on sectors expanding financial access.
The estimated impact is R$ 17.5 billion from benefits reduction, R$ 2.5 billion from JCP, R$ 1.6 billion from fintechs, and R$ 850 million from bets, totaling R$ 22.45 billion. The bill also revalidates canceled parliamentary amendments from 2019-2023 for payment by 2026.
