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Knowledge Center Country Guides
Brazil’s vibrant culture and laid-back lifestyle have made it one of the most popular destinations for US expats. But what are Brazil’s taxes like for Americans living abroad? In this guide, we’ll go over what you need to know about expat taxes in Brazil.
When discussing expat taxes, it’s always important to remember that Americans living in other countries still have US tax obligations. That’s because every US citizen is required to file a federal tax return regardless of where they live. Whether you’ve made your home in Raleigh or Rio de Janeiro, you still have to report your income to Uncle Sam.
But what about Brazilian taxes? In most cases, you’ll also have to file a tax return in Brazil. Let’s take a closer look at what you can expect.
Brazil’s tax filing requirements vary depending on whether you qualify as a resident or non-resident for tax purposes.
There are a few primary ways you can be considered a resident of Brazil.
Learn where the best tax havens are, common traps, and ways to save money on your US expat taxes.
Brazilian residents are taxed on their worldwide income at progressive rates that range from 7.5% to 27.5%.
(All amounts are given in BRL.)
Earnings in BRL – Tax Rate Applicable to Income Level
Non-residents are taxed on only their Brazil-source income at a flat rate of 25%.
If you are a non-resident, you do not have to file an annual tax return until you become a resident.
Brazil imposes a tax on capital gains made from:
The rate for this tax is generally 15%.
Non-residents are only taxed on capital gains made from the sale of assets located in Brazil.
Brazil’s corporate tax rate is fixed at 15% of annual taxable income. This may be calculated using either the Actual Profit Method or Presumed Profit Method.
There is no national property tax in Brazil, but Brazilian municipalities generally levy a local property tax. The rates for this tax vary by region and are generally calculated based on the fair market value of the property.
As with Brazil’s property tax, the transfer tax is imposed only at the municipal level. This tax applies to the transfer of immovable property. Rates vary by region.
Brazil has no national estate, inheritance, or gift taxes. Some municipalities do impose a form of this taxation. Rates vary, with a maximum tax rate of 8%.
Brazil levies a tax on certain goods imported into the country. Rates vary based on various factors but tend to range from 10%–20%.
Just like in the US, the Brazilian tax year is the same as the calendar year: January 1 to December 31.
For most forms of income—such as a traditional salary—your taxes will be withheld at the source and paid on a monthly basis. If you qualify as a resident, you must also file an annual tax return each year to confirm your income. You may also need to report any types of income not covered by your monthly tax payments, such as investment income. (This income would not have been withheld at the source.)
In most years, the due date for your annual tax return is the last business day of April. However, as of 2022, the Brazilian government has extended that deadline to May 31. (There is no extension available beyond this.)
Failure to file a tax return when required or pay all taxes owed may result in severe penalties.
No. There is currently no US-Brazil tax treaty. This leaves Americans living in Brazil at risk of double taxation on their income. Fortunately, the IRS tax credits listed above can help reduce the risk of double taxation for most US expats. (More on this below.)
Yes. The US has a totalization agreement in place with Brazil to clarify which country’s social security system an American expat may be obligated to contribute to. This agreement is designed to ward off double taxation.
Most expats living in Brazil will have to file an annual income tax return with the Brazilian government. In addition to this, you will have to file at least one US tax form—and probably a couple more. Here are the most common tax forms US expats have to file.
Form 1040 is the standard US individual income tax return. All US citizens are required to file this form regardless of where they live.
For most US citizens, Form 1040 is due on April 18 in 2023, but for expats, that deadline is automatically extended to June 15.
Pro Tip: If necessary, you can also request an additional filing extension to October 16 for this form.
If you own non-US financial assets valued above certain thresholds, you must file a FATCA report. The specific threshold for your finances will depend on your filing status and whether you qualify as a bona fide resident of Brazil.
If you do have to file a FATCA report, just fill it out, attach it to your Form 1040, and file them at the same time.
If you have at least $10,000 deposited in one or more non-US bank accounts, you’ll need to report it by filing FinCEN Form 114, also known as the FBAR.
Unlike the previous forms, you can’t file the FBAR by mail. You must file it electronically using the FinCEN BSA E-Filing System.
The FBAR is technically due on April 15, but if you miss that deadline, it automatically extends to October 15. You won’t even have to file an extension request.
The IRS provides several other potential tax credits and deductions for Americans overseas. Using these tax benefits, many expats are able to erase their US tax debt entirely. Let’s look over the three most common.
The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion is a tax credit that lets expats exclude a certain amount of foreign-earned income from US taxation. The exact amount you can exclude changes from year to year, but is currently set at $112,200.
If you qualify for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, you can claim it by filing IRS Form 2555.
Using the Foreign Tax Credit, expats can deduct the income taxes they paid to foreign governments from their US tax bill, dollar for dollar. This helps reduce the possibility of double taxation.
If you qualify for the Foreign Tax Credit, you can claim it by filing IRS Form 1116.
The Foreign Housing Exclusion lets expats deduct housing-related expenses from their US tax bill.
If you qualify for the Foreign Housing Exclusion, you’ll have to claim it using Form 2555, as this exclusion is only available if you also claim the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion.
Every US citizen is required to file an annual US tax return. This applies regardless of where you live. However, if you didn’t know that, you’re far from alone. Many Americans living overseas are unaware of this tax obligation.
Fortunately, the IRS provides an amnesty program to help expats come into compliance without facing any penalties. It’s known as the Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures.
To use this program, all you have to do is:
This will bring you into compliance with IRS regulations.
We hope this guide has given you a better understanding of how Brazil’s tax policies impact US expats. If you still have questions, our team of tax experts is here to help.
Whether you need tax advice to prepare for a move abroad, to buy property or even retire, Greenback can help. Consults upfront can help avoid costly mistakes and stress later.