It is no secret that my view and critique of the Brazilian tax system is that it is a machine that grinds down the poorest. Those who spend their entire income at the supermarket pay, proportionally, far more in taxes than those who invest in the stock market. It is a math that, to me, does not make much sense.
But to be fair, Resolução CGIBS nº 6/2026 attempts to correct this distortion by creating a new social tax model. And it is not based solely on generic exemptions, as had been done until now, but on technology and direct refunds. The main highlight here is the tax cashback, or "personalized IBS refund".
Instead of exempting the product on the shelf, which benefited both the well-off and the minimum-wage worker alike, the government now collects the tax and returns a portion of the money directly to the account of low-income families, based on CadÚnico and the CPF on the receipt. And the innovation goes further: there is the "cashback refund," which is deposited into the account, and the "cashback discount," which deducts the tax amount directly from the electricity, water, or gas bill.
In addition to the cashback, the reform structures a National Basic Food Basket, with a zero rate for essential products. It also establishes steep reductions (of 60% or 30%) for vital sectors such as health, education, medications, accessibility devices, and personal hygiene products consumed by low-income families. For the first time, I see a tax distinction that is not limited to income alone or to the product alone, but something that encompasses both.
To better explain the difference between exemption, zero rate, and cashback: exemption and zero rate act on the price of the product for everyone. Cashback acts on the income of those who truly need it.
The impact of this on the consumer market is quite substantial. Supermarkets, pharmacies, and essential service providers will see a shift in purchasing behavior. The CPF on the receipt, which was previously used for raffles or small redemptions, is now the key to improving the financial situation of millions of families. I understand that this is genuinely more important than Bolsa Família itself, which in some cases stopped being a safety net and ended up dictating a way of life.
But theory is always more appealing than practice. How good it would be if actions like these always produced only positive results. There are still undefined points that raise concern about how they will be handled. What is not yet fully clear is how this cashback will be operationalized without friction. The resolution provides that the money must arrive quickly, but the banking and social integration of millions of unbanked Brazilians or those in remote areas is an enormous challenge. The definitive eligibility criteria and the security limits to prevent fraud still depend on acts of the Comitê Gestor. And let us be honest: it is precisely this lack of criteria, which sometimes seems intentional, that fuels the major schemes we have seen recently, as in the case of INSS. The actual implementation schedule will require fine-tuned coordination between the Ministério do Desenvolvimento Social, the Receita, and the banks. And we know that this coordination does not always exist.
But this time, I will allow myself to believe that the tax reform finally looked at the end consumer through 21st-century lenses. Technology now makes it possible to deliver social justice at the checkout. If the execution is done well, we will move away from a system that penalizes basic consumption and toward a system that returns dignity. The tool is on the table.
Article originally published at GazzConecta.
