Hearing in the Senate discusses the CBS rate and reignites fiscal alert about tax reform

The Senate will hear technicians, control bodies and representatives of the productive sector about one of the most sensitive points of the tax reform: how much the new consumption tax will cost. According to Diário do Poder, the CAE (Economic Affairs Commission) gave its approval, by unanimous vote, to a request by Izalci Lucas for a public hearing, scheduled for November 10th. Voting took place on November 3, a Tuesday.

The reason is recent data. According to the accounts of the Federal Audit Court (TCU), the Contribution on Goods and Services (CBS) rate would reach 11.3% in 2027, compared to the 9.21% previously projected. Diário do Poder informs that CBS added to IBS can reach around 30%, above the ceiling of 26.5% provided for in the reform rules.

The CBS comes into force in 2027 and replaces old corporate taxes. Meanwhile, the dual charging model of states and municipalities is gradually replacing ICMS and ISS. In other words, the change is not limited to the federal rate: it changes the way consumption will be taxed in more than one sphere of government.

The deadline also matters. The Senate has until December 15, 2026 to set the CBS standard rate by official act. If Congress does not decide by that date, the 11.3% rate calculated by the TCU will be automatically applied. Without a congressional definition, therefore, the court number becomes what applies.

Before the hearing, Izalci Lucas sent requests for clarification to the Ministry of Finance regarding the calculation figures. According to Diário do Poder, the table will have names from the Court of Auditors itself, tax inspection professionals, the government's economic team, those who manage state and municipal taxes and entities from the productive sectors. The discussion thus brings together those who calculate, those who collect and those who pay the bill.

Reading for those who apply and operate

Those who apply and operate in the market need, above all, predictability. A rate that could rise from 9.21% to 11.3% changes the balance of companies exposed to consumption, and the addition of IBS could increase the burden on sectors that are already heavily taxed, which would put pressure on margins. It is worth monitoring three dates: the hearing on November 10th, the Treasury's responses to Izalci Lucas' requests and the deadline of December 15th. While the rate is not fixed, uncertainty about the tax burden remains an analysis factor. This article does not project prices or indicate the purchase or sale of any asset.

Automatically translated from Portuguese.