Brazil Tax Deadline: 4 Cities Below 50% Filing RateWith the income tax declaration deadline approaching on May 29, data from Brazil's Federal Revenue Service shows that the four largest cities in the Sul de Minas region have yet to surpass a 50% filing rate. Together, Pouso Alegre, Poços de Caldas, Varginha, and Passos are expected to submit over 149,000 declarations, but fewer than 60,000 documents have been filed so far.
Filing Progress by CityAmong the four cities, Pouso Alegre leads with 18,154 declarations submitted, representing 41.4% of its expected total. Passos follows closely with 9,706 filings, reaching 41.33%. Poços de Caldas has submitted 18,287 declarations, equivalent to 38% of the Federal Revenue's estimate. Varginha has the lowest rate, with 13,347 declarations filed, accounting for 37% of its expected total.
Expected Pattern and AdviceAccording to Federal Revenue auditor Carlos Ortiz, the current filing volume is within the expected pattern. He noted a higher concentration of submissions at the start of the filing period, particularly from taxpayers aiming to receive their refunds in the first batches. "Normally, there is a large delivery in the first week from people who want to receive their refund earlier. This year, the expectation is that about 80% of refunds will be paid in the first and second batches," Ortiz explained.
The auditor also highlighted that the number of declarations typically increases significantly as the deadline nears. "It increases a lot in the last week, because many Brazilians like to live dangerously," he remarked.
Common Challenges and ResourcesAmong the main difficulties taxpayers face when filing are a lack of organization and missing documents, such as income statements and receipts. Declarations can be submitted via the program available on the Federal Revenue website or through the "Meu Imposto de Renda" (My Income Tax) app.
Ortiz clarified that the rules for filing income tax are set by the Federal Revenue and consider criteria like annual income, assets, stock market transactions, and rural activities. For those unsure about their obligation to file, he recommends accessing the Federal Revenue website, where the virtual assistant "Léo" can help determine filing requirements through a few interactions.
The auditor emphasized that not leaving the submission to the last minute helps avoid problems and the application of fines.