A request for a review from the leader of the opposition in the Senate, senator Rogério Marinho (PL-RN), postponed until December 2nd the vote on the bill (PL) that increases the taxation of fintechs, payment companies that operate in the financial market, and bets, online sports betting companies. The text also creates a tax regularization program for low-income people.
“This is an extremely technical subject and it is an extremely important subject as well, which leads us to the need to take a kind of dive into the topic,” said Marinho, when asking for the vote to be postponed.
PL 5,373 of 2025 is being processed by the Senate’s Economic Affairs Committee (CAE) on a final basis. In other words, if approved, the project goes straight to analysis by the Chamber of Deputies if no appeal is presented in the Senate.
The project’s rapporteur, senator Eduardo Braga (MDB-AM), presented a new opinion this Wednesday (26) accepting, in whole or in part, 20 of the 176 amendments presented for modifications to the text.
Braga reduced the increase in betting taxation foreseen in the original project, which was authored by senator Renan Calheiros (MDB-AL).
Calheiros predicted increasing taxation on bets from 12% to 24%. According to the rapporteur’s text, presented today, the increase will be from 12% to 15% in 2026 and to 18% in 2028.
“Our fear is that the intended increase, which abruptly doubles the current percentage, will harm already legalized companies, while irregular companies will continue to act with impunity, without collecting a single cent from public coffers,” he stated.
Also according to the rapporteur’s text, the increase in resources from the taxation of bets will be directed to social security and to states, the Federal District (DF) and municipalities.
“This increase will be allocated to social security for actions in the area of health, considering that this activity has caused serious impacts on the mental health of the Brazilian people, even leading to the suicide of some compatriots”, explained Senator Braga.
The calculation basis for betting taxation is gross gaming revenue and calculated as the total collected from bets, minus the amount paid to bettors as a prize..
Fintechs
The rapporteur also accepted amendments from senators to increase, in a phased manner, taxation on fintechs until 2028. As a result, the Social Contribution on Net Profit (CSLL) on fintechs will rise from the current 9% to 12% in 2026 and to 15% in 2028. Companies that pay 15% today will pay 17.5% in 2026 and 20% in 2028.
“In other words, the increase in rates will not be done all at once so as not to unfairly impact those who are legally legal, without the illegality being finally combatted,” said the rapporteur.
Senator Eduardo Braga argues that the increase in CSLL for fintechs is necessary to equal the percentage of taxation that is currently charged to traditional banks.
“The 20% rate, previously applicable only to banks, will apply to credit, financing and investment companies and capitalization legal entities. The measure strengthens fiscal sustainability and provides equality between entities regulated and supervised by the Central Bank of Brazil by correcting distortions in the tax burden between institutions that carry out similar operations”, he explained in the report.
Fintechs are digital payment companies that operate in the financial market. They have been criticized for the lack of regulation and supervision they suffer from the Central Bank. Several recent police operations revealed the use of these companies to launder organized crime money.
Combating money laundering
According to the rapporteur, the project creates standards to make it difficult to use the financial system of fintechs and bets to launder money from organized crime.. Senator Eduardo Braga estimates that R$500 billion circulates through these companies without supervision by the Central Bank.
“It is an illegality that affects millions of Brazilians and the Brazilian economy as a whole. The rate of tax evasion predicted by these illegal activities is more than R$200 billion in public revenue that is no longer collected.”
According to Braga, if the text is approved, from April 2026 there will be no more fintechs with capital below the inspection radar of the Central Bank and the Financial Activities Control Council (Coaf), linked to the Ministry of Finance..
Among the changes, there are “clearer” criteria for authorizing the operation of bets, “reinforcing that the Ministry of Finance may deny authorizations when there are doubts about the suitability of administrators and controllers”.
Furthermore, the text establishes minimum requirements for proving the suitability of bets and internet companies will have up to 48 working hours to remove illegal pages..
“Non-compliance with the new standards brings significant administrative sanctions, such as fines of up to R$50,000.00 (fifty thousand reais) for irregular operation and the temporary suspension of services provided by operators”, says Senator Braga in the report.
Renegotiation of taxes for low income
PL 5,373 of 2025 also establishes the Tax Regularization Program for Low-Income Individuals (Pert-Low Income).
Individuals who, in the calendar year 2024, have earned monthly taxable income of up to R$7,350.00 or annual taxable income of up to R$88,200.00 can join the program..
“Adhesion will occur upon request made within ninety days from the publication of the law and will cover the debts indicated by the taxpayer, as a taxpayer or responsible person”, says the project.
Profit remittance
The bill under analysis also allows taxpayers residing abroad to request, within a period of five years, a refund of taxes charged that exceed the legal limits on income levied on profits and dividends..
