The Brazilian Federal Revenue Service (Receita Federal do Brasil – RFB) has implemented a significant change to the ultimate beneficial owner (UBO) reporting regime. This measure aims to enhance transparency in economic and financial relationships and strengthen the fight against money laundering, corruption, and tax evasion.
What is changing under the new rule
Normative Instruction RFB No. 2,290/2025 established the Digital Ultimate Beneficial Owner Form (e-BEF). Through this new system, the identification of the ultimate beneficial owner now forms a direct part of the company’s CNPJ registration. The system has been in force since January 1, 2026.
Please note: filings that were previously pending under the former procedure have been archived by the Federal Revenue Service and must be resubmitted.
Deadlines and procedures
The declaration must be filed exclusively through the e-BEF, available on the RFB’s Digital Services Portal. The filing requires the legal representative’s digital certificate or a specific electronic power of attorney.
- Initial filing or change deadline: Within 30 days of CNPJ registration or of any subsequent change to the reported beneficial owners.
- Annual confirmation: an annual confirmation is required by the last day of each calendar year, even in cases where no changes have occurred.
Penalties
Failure to comply with this obligation, whether through non-filing, omission, or inaccuracies in the provided information, will result in the suspension of the CNPJ, alongside the imposition of fines.
We remain at your disposal to assist you with updating your corporate structure and with preparing or filing the ultimate beneficial owner declaration (e-BEF), ensuring your company remains fully compliant within the new statutory deadlines.
