The Tax Reform is on the agenda in Brazil, bringing significant changes that will affect various sectors, including e-commerce. Companies in this market will need to reassess, mainly, cash flow, the purchase and sale prices of products and the supply chain
Felipe Beraldi, economist and manager of Indicators and Economic Studies at Omie, cloud management platform (ERP), explain that the Reform is one of the deepest structural changes in the Brazilian economy in recent decades, considering the impact on all businesses of all sizes. With that, the coming years are expected to be marked by a significant improvement in management within companies. The economist lists, below, everything an e-commerce professional needs to know regarding the new rules
1 – Unification of taxesThe package of measures to regulate the Tax Reform is under discussion in the Legislature, com a principal proposta de unificar cinco tributos — ICMS, ISS, IPI, PIS and Cofins — em dois: CBS (federal) e IBS (estadual/municipal), in addition to the Selective Tax for a specific list of products. This change will result in the creation of VAT (Value Added Tax), simplifying tax collection and making the process more transparent
"By reflecting the tax burden on the stages of the production chain in a more transparent way", e-commerce companies gain greater clarity to define their pricing policy. It is necessary to pay attention to the changes that the Reform will introduce in the market, whether it is the redistribution of the tax burden among sectors or the broader mechanism of tax crediting in production chains, explain the economist
2- Impacto nos preços de compra e vendaThe practice of crediting and debiting on a certain tax was, until then, most common in ICMS (Tax on the Circulation of Goods and Services). With the tax reform, the crediting will be expanded to consumption as a whole
To adjust to the new tax burden, a thorough analysis of the pricing policy will be necessary. Leaving the adjustment of online product prices all at once may require significant increases. A sudden change affects the relationship with customers and suppliers, that may choose not to buy anymore, what influences the viability and growth of the business, comment Beraldi
3 – Impact on cash flowThe economist recalls that, with the legislative changes, businesses that sell online will need to deal more with data and better understand financial elements of the business. The lack of preparation can lead to an inadequate structuring of the financial flow and the basic indicators of the business, including the risk of overpaying or underpaying taxes, what can trigger tax audits and investigations by the Federal Revenue Service, complete
4 – Gradual transitionThe Tax Reform is expected to have positive effects on the country's potential GDP in the medium and long term. More growth also means more business opportunities, that will come with complex challenges. Beraldi emphasizes that the implementation of the IBS will be gradual, with a transition period of up to eight years. During this period, the old taxes will coexist with the new system, requiring adaptation and planning from companies. It is essential that e-commerce professionals are prepared for this transition, adjusting your systems and processes to ensure compliance with the new rules, recommend
5 – Supplier chain assessmentThe implementation of good tax planning will become an essential element for survival – will involve a thorough assessment by the entrepreneur, aiming to maintain its competitiveness in the market, without fully compromising your margins
"At this moment, e-commerce leaders should pay attention to the evolution of regulation and the potential specific impacts on their segment, seek to organize the financial information of your business and, especially, get closer to the accountant – professional who will have a very strategic role for companies in this context, highlights the economist
