The Minister of Entrepreneurship, Microenterprise and Small Businesses, Paulo Pereira stated, this Thursday (29), that the forgiveness of federal tax debts of individual microentrepreneurs (MEIs) with the Union will allow small business owners or those who work on their own to return to formality. Which, according to him, has the potential to increase federal revenue by up to R$4 billion.
"Just by putting these MEIs back into [formal] activity, the government can raise between R$3 billion and R$4 billion. So, it is a measure that, from a fiscal point of view, is necessary", said Pereira when participating in the program Bom Dia, Minister – a co-production between the Secretariat of Social Communication (Secom) of the Presidency of the Republic and Canal Gov, broadcast through the channels of Empresa Brasil de Comunicação (EBC).
According to the federal government, forgiveness of the debts of individual microentrepreneurs registered in active debt until October 13, 2026 can benefit around 3.6 million people whose debts, combined, exceed R$12 billion – of which almost 86% (around R$11 billion) are considered amounts that are difficult or impossible to recover from public coffers.
“There is a group in debt since the pandemic”, explained the minister, highlighting that, by failing to pay their contributions on time, MEIs lose tax benefits, which makes it even more difficult to pay off their outstanding debts, plus interest and debts. “The government would never see this money again”, added Pereira.
Prospera MEI
The automatic forgiveness of MEIs' tax debts with the Union is one of the measures provided for in Complementary Law No. 238, which President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sanctioned on the 21st, and is part of the so-called Prospera Mei, a set of measures aimed at those who are self-employed or own a small business.
The law also establishes measures to facilitate and expand the participation of small businesses in government purchases and contracting, among other changes, such as:
- New revenue ceiling: annual limit of R$110 thousand in 2027 and R$140 thousand in 2028.
- Hiring employees: possibility of hiring up to two employees in the activities covered by the new rule, and no longer just one.
- Invoice: exemption from issuance in transactions with individuals, according to the decree signed by the president.
- Pix MEI: direct economic subsidy of up to R$5,000 for investment in structuring small businesses and which must be applied to the acquisition of goods that contribute to the productive development of the activity. Access will depend on the implementation of the program and the operational rules to be established in notices that have not yet been published.
According to the minister, the federal government is studying the creation of an application that facilitates beneficiaries' access to Pix MEI. "The idea is to do this in a very easy way and to reduce bureaucracy. Trying to create a mechanism, probably an application, with a direct relationship with the MEI, and always thinking about investments of up to R$5,000."
Unwind 3.0
The package also provides for a debt renegotiation front with financial institutions, in an initiative associated with Desenrola 3.0. According to the minister, the installment and discount system, adopted in the first two editions of the program, were not enough to resolve the sector's debt, motivating the government to adopt a new model.
"In Desenrola 1 and 2, the guy went to the bank and said: I have a credit card debt with that bank and I want you to put this debt in Desenrola. President Lula wanted something more radical. Now, the federal government is going to buy this debt".
MEI will not need to do anything”, guaranteed the minister, ensuring that, to participate in the operation, financial institutions must offer discounts on outstanding balances.
“As the government buys [the debts] in batches, [it pays] 5%, 7% or 10% [of the value] of the debt. It is much cheaper for the government than if society were to pay”, concluded the minister.
