On August 1, 2026, a system that will reshape the landscape of e-commerce payments in Brazil officially took effect: the mandatory implementation of ”Split Payment.” Starting on this date, revenue generated by sellers on Mercado Libre’s Brazilian site will be automatically split into ”sales proceeds” and “service fees” in accordance with Brazilian tax law, with each portion settled and taxed separately. Sellers must link their local Brazilian CPF/CNPJ tax information and a local Brazilian bank account in order to receive payments normally.

For cross-border sellers without a local entity in Brazil, the impact of this new regulation is direct:Payment channels have been subject to systemic tightening. Brazil has strict foreign exchange controls, so payments must be received via the local PIX channel; direct withdrawals via SWIFT are not supported. The prerequisite for using the PIX channel is valid CPF/CNPJ tax information and a local bank account. In other words, ”no local tax ID → no local bank account → cannot receive payments”—this causal chain is a closed loop.

At the same time, the platform is tightening its financial risk controls: Mercado Pago has strengthened its verification of the consistency of payment account information; if there are significant discrepancies between the payment account name, the store’s registered name, and the tax entity information, the platform will initiate manual fund reviews and delay withdrawals. The risks associated with previously common ”gray-area” practices—such as ”using someone else’s tax ID to receive payments” or ”currency exchange through underground channels”—have escalated from ”potential investigation” to “immediate account freeze.”

Brazil is the second-largest e-commerce market in Latin America and one of Meitiao’s core markets. The new regulations on split payments are not a reason to exit the Brazilian market, but rather a call to ”enter the market in compliance.” Qicaiying Group offers one-stop services including Brazilian company registration, CNPJ registration, local bank account opening, and PIX payment setup. This article will systematically analyze the escrow payment mechanism, CPF/CNPJ registration processes, compliant payment collection configurations, and risk prevention measures. If you are looking to expand into the Brazilian market, please contact Qicaiying (Consultation Hotline: 18676749275; add WeChat: Qicaiyingjituan).

Qicaiying Group specializes in providing domestic and international company registration services in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, the United States, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Singapore, the British Virgin Islands (BVI), the Cayman Islands, and other locations, as well as corporate annual review and auditing, bookkeeping and tax filing, tax compliance, information updates, bank account opening, ODI filing, FDI filing, and other corporate services; Hong Kong identity application, renewal, and permanent residency services; Singapore EP application services; and cross-border e-commerce support and managed operations—all as part of our one-stop service. If you have any needs or are interested, please feel free to contact me at any time (Consultation Hotline: 18676749275; add me on WeChat: Qicaiyingjituan).

I. What Is Revenue Sharing: How Is the Payment for an Order Divided?

Split Payment is a payment transparency system promoted by the Brazilian Internal Revenue Service. Its core mechanism is that, after a consumer makes a payment, the funds are no longer transferred in full to the seller but are instead split directly at the point of payment in accordance with tax laws.

Split Logic: The total amount of an order is split into two parts: ”proceeds from product sales” and ”service fees.” Proceeds from product sales go to the seller, while service fees go to the platform or service provider; each part is taxed and settled separately. Taxes are withheld at the source and transferred directly into the tax system.

Purpose of the Policy: Ensure that tax information for every transaction is made transparent at the point of payment, eliminating opportunities for tax evasion under the ”platform self-reports after receiving payment” model. Brazil continues to integrate data interfaces between platforms and tax authorities, enabling real-time synchronization of order and transaction data—with cross-verification across three layers—transaction, payment, and tax—leaving virtually no room for gray-area operations.

Actual impact on sellers: First, your payment account must be linked to your CPF/CNPJ and a local bank account; otherwise, settlements cannot be processed properly. Second, taxes are withheld at the source for each transaction, and the amount received is the net amount after taxes. Third, your tax returns must match the platform’s data; any discrepancies will trigger an audit.

II. CPF and CNPJ: How to Choose Between the Two Tax Identifiers

Tax status in Brazil is divided into two categories: individuals and businesses.

CPF (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas): The Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (CPF) is intended for sole proprietors. Individuals with legal residency status in Brazil may apply for a CPF to conduct business activities in their own name. For Chinese sellers, the CPF route is generally not feasible or unreliable unless they or their partners have residency status in Brazil.

CNPJ (National Register of Legal Entities): The Corporate Tax ID, also known as the CNPJ, is the taxpayer identification number for Brazilian companies. Obtaining a CNPJ after registering a Brazilian company (typically an LTDA, or limited liability company) serves as the standard tax identification for cross-border sellers conducting business in Brazil. The CNPJ is linked to the company’s bank account and supports a comprehensive system for input tax credits and tax filing.

Select a recommendation: Sellers planning to operate in Brazil long-term, with stable monthly sales or plans for localization (local stores, full warehouses), should register a Brazilian company to obtain a CNPJ—which is also a prerequisite for opening a local store on Mercado Libre Brazil. Sellers conducting only short-term testing should assess the compliance of their existing sales channels under the guidance of a professional consultant. Under no circumstances should they use the high-risk practice of ”borrowing someone else’s tax ID” (as this offers no guarantee of account fund security and violates both platform policies and Brazilian tax laws).

III. Registering a Brazilian Company and Obtaining a CNPJ: A Step-by-Step Guide

Taking the most common type of company, the LTDA (Limited Liability Company), as an example, the complete process for registering a Brazilian company and obtaining a CNPJ consists of six steps.

Step 1: Determine the company structure and shareholder information. Determine the shareholders, registered capital (there is no mandatory minimum registered capital for a Brazilian LTDA, but it is recommended that it be commensurate with the scale of the business), and scope of business. Chinese shareholders must provide notarized and authenticated copies of identification documents, such as passports.

Step 2: Draft the articles of incorporation. The Articles of Incorporation (Contrato Social) must be drafted in accordance with Brazilian law, clearly defining the ownership structure, management, and scope of business, and must be notarized by a Brazilian notary public.

Step 3: Company Registration. Complete the company registration with the state’s Department of Corporations (Junta Comercial) and obtain a certificate of incorporation.

Step 4: Obtain a CNPJ. Applications for a CNPJ tax ID number submitted to the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service (Receita Federal) are typically approved within a few business days after company registration.

Step 5: Open a local bank account. Open a local Brazilian bank account in the company’s name. Bank account opening procedures in Brazil are subject to strict scrutiny; some banks require the legal representative to be present or to authorize a local representative to handle the process, making a professional local network of partners crucial in this regard.

Step 6: Tax System Registration and PIX Configuration. Complete tax registration for state taxes (ICMS), municipal taxes (ISS), and other taxes; set up a PIX payment channel; and link it to the Meike Duo seller dashboard.

The entire process involves multiple steps, including the notarization and authentication of legal documents, Portuguese-language documents, and the involvement of a local representative; engaging a professional agency can significantly shorten the timeline and avoid the need for rework.

IV. Compliance Settings for Receiving Payments: Three Key Points for the PIX Channel

Key Point 1: Subject Consistency. The name on the receiving account, the store’s registered name, and the CNPJ tax entity information must all match. This is a core verification requirement for Mercado Pago’s funds risk control; any discrepancy will trigger a manual review and delay withdrawals.

Key Point 2: The uniqueness of the PIX channel. Under Brazil’s foreign exchange controls, payments received by the platform must go through the local PIX system. Sellers must not attempt to receive platform payments directly into non-Brazilian accounts, nor should they use underground currency exchange channels—sellers bear full responsibility for any risk of funds being frozen or confiscated.

Key Point 3: Each site has its own independent funding. Each Mercado Libre marketplace operates with independent local-currency settlement, and funds cannot be transferred internally between marketplaces. To reallocate funds between the Brazil and Mexico marketplaces, sellers must first withdraw the funds, convert them, and then reallocate them—which places higher demands on the cash flow planning of multi-marketplace sellers.

Qicaiying Group offers one-stop business setup services, including Brazilian company registration, CNPJ registration, opening local bank accounts, setting up PIX payments, and tax filing (ICMS/ISS/income tax). We maintain long-term partnerships with licensed local accounting and law firms in Brazil. Our local professionals handle the implementation of these services, ensuring compliance with Brazilian regulatory requirements while maintaining efficient communication with our Chinese team. For inquiries, please call 18676749275 or add us on WeChat: Qicaiyingjituan.

Qicaiying Group’s bank account opening services cover a variety of account types, including local Brazilian accounts and offshore accounts (NRA/OSA). We can design a comprehensive ”fund collection—foreign exchange settlement—fund repatriation” process for Mercadosito sellers, complemented by financial and tax services such as cross-border e-commerce compliance accounting and export tax refund filings, ensuring that every transaction in the Brazilian market is processed in full compliance with regulations. Contact number: 18676749275. Add us on WeChat: Qicaiyingjituan.

V. Financial and Tax Management in the Era of Separate Account Payments

Following the new regulations, the Brazilian branch’s financial and tax management must be upgraded to a ”three-tier structure.”

Level 1: Payment Collection Layer. Funds from the platform are transferred via the PIX channel to the accounts of local Brazilian companies; taxes are withheld at source, and the amount received is the net amount. The focus of monitoring is on reconciling the received amount with order data (to verify the tax withholding criteria).

Level 2: Fiscal and Tax Level. Establish a Brazilian tax compliance system centered on the CNPJ: regular filing of state ICMS tax, service ISS tax, and federal income tax returns, as well as the collection and deduction of input tax credits. Given the complexity of the Brazilian tax system (which involves federal, state, and municipal levels of taxation), it is recommended that a professional team handle the filing process.

Third Layer: Return Flow Layer. Profits are repatriated from the Brazilian company’s accounts to the Chinese entity in compliance with regulations, involving the structuring of payment channels—such as dividends and service fees—and foreign exchange reporting. At the same time, on the domestic side, this is supported by compliant cross-border e-commerce accounting and export tax rebates, forming a closed-loop system that ensures the ”alignment of the four flows” (contract flow, capital flow, invoice flow, and logistics flow).

Once the three-tier architecture is in place, the flow of funds in the Brazilian market will be completely transparent—while compliance costs will increase in the short term, in the long run, this is the only funding model that can withstand audits by the tax authorities and the platform’s risk control measures.

VI. Conclusion: The key to entering the Brazilian market is shifting from traffic generation capabilities to compliance capabilities

The mandatory implementation of split payments, CPF/CNPJ linking, the PIX channel monopoly, and account consistency verification—the Brazilian market has completed the compliance loop for payment recipients through a series of new policies. The message is the same for all sellers:Competition in the Brazilian market is shifting from ”who can sell products” to ”who can sell products in compliance with regulations.”

For Chinese sellers with a competitive edge in the supply chain, Brazil remains a major market not to be missed: Brazil accounts for over 200 million of Latin America’s 650 million people, e-commerce penetration is rising rapidly, and the infrastructure of the Mercado Libre platform (FULL warehouses, Mercado Pago, and logistics networks) continues to improve. The process of raising compliance standards is, in fact, a process of weeding out low-quality competition and creating space for compliant sellers.

If you’re planning to formally enter the Brazilian market and need assistance with Brazilian company registration, CNPJ registration, opening a local bank account, or tax compliance, please feel free to contact Qicaiying. Qicaiying Group is a board member of the Shenzhen Cross-Border E-Commerce Association. With a professional team of 400 and a network of local partners spanning more than 40 countries, we have served over 18,000 corporate clients and can tailor a comprehensive Brazil market entry solution for you—covering everything from corporate structure and payment compliance to financial and tax filings. Consultation Hotline: 18676749275. Add us on WeChat: Qicaiyingjituan.

Qicaiying Group specializes in providing one-stop cross-border e-commerce support services, including Brazilian company registration, CNPJ application, opening Brazilian bank accounts, setting up PIX payment collection, operating the Brazilian site on Meituo, and Latin American tax compliance. Let compliance be your competitive advantage in the Brazilian market, not a stumbling block. Contact us at 18676749275, or add us on WeChat: Qicaiyingjituan.