Can I Claim Bank Fees and Charges as a Business Expense in Brazil?
Yes. Fees on the company's accounts, card machines and payment services are business costs.
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AccountsOS keeps the books for Brazil businesses, tracks tax deadlines and handles expenses, in plain English. Ask Finn about yours, no signup needed.
What Receita Federal do Brasil says
How a cost affects income tax depends on the regime. Under Lucro Real an operating expense is deductible when it is necessary for the activity and the upkeep of the business, and usual or normal for its kind of business (RIR/2018 art. 311). Under Lucro Presumido and the Simples Nacional tax is worked out from revenue, so expenses do not reduce IRPJ or CSLL, though they still belong in the accounts. Fees on the company's own accounts fit the test. Interest on late tax payments and tax fines are different and need your contador's view. Card machine and payment provider fees are usually taken out of the amount paid to you. Record the full sale as revenue and the fee as a cost, rather than only the net amount, so revenue in the books matches the fiscal documents issued.
When you can claim
- Account maintenance fees
- Card machine and payment processing fees
- Transfer fees on company payments
- Fees for issuing boletos to customers
- Foreign exchange fees on payments to foreign suppliers
- Fees for a business credit card held by the company
- Charges for paying salaries and suppliers in bulk from the company account
When you cannot claim
- Fees on a partner's personal account
- Tax fines
- Interest on a partner's personal overdraft
Good to know
Pro tip: Finn picks bank fees out of the statement automatically; check them once a month. Download the fee statements from your payment provider each month, because card machine fees are often netted from the payout rather than charged separately.
Important: Interest and fines on late tax payments are not ordinary bank fees. Finn flags them separately so your contador can treat them correctly.
Related expenses
Stop guessing what you can claim in Brazil
AccountsOS automatically categorises expenses with Receita Federal do Brasil-aware rules and tells you exactly what is claimable.
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