(Previously published in the WTS Newsletter.)
Brazil is widely known for taking a different approach to transfer pricing rules, with Brazil- ian rules diverging substantially from the OECD Guidelines. This unique approach also extends to transfer pricing documentation requirements.
Out of the three standard documents recommended by the OECD as transfer pricing docu- mentation requirements, Brazil has only effectively implemented the CbCR, in line with BEPS Action 13.
Brazilian taxpayers who are subject to transfer pricing rules are required to fill in certain registers of the Brazilian Electronic Tax Accounting bookkeeping (Escrituração Contábil Fiscal
– “ECF”), which replaced the traditional corporate income tax return for calendar years 2014 and onwards. These specific registers are considered by some as a simplified Local File.
Although the portion relating to transfer pricing of the ECF is considered as a simplified obligation vis-à-vis the standards established under BEPS Action 13, the ECF is one of the most complex ancillary obligations annually submitted by Brazilian companies, containing detailed accounting information, the Corporate Income Tax calculation, information on Brazilian controlled foreign corporation rules, taxes paid abroad and information request- ed for Brazilian transfer pricing purposes, amongst others.
Every year, the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service updates the registers and entry fields contained in the ECF and, over the years, several new requirements were imposed to the taxpayer for the compliance with Brazilian transfer pricing rules. For FY 2020, the tax authori- ties included several additional entry fields in the ECF to be submitted, in principle, until the end of July 2021 (a deadline which will likely be extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
The increase in complexity of ancillary obligations is an everlasting concern for the Brazilian taxpayer, who already spends, on average, 1,500 hours to comply with the current ancillary obligations on an annual basis.
Hours spent to comply with tax obligations
Brazil – 1500 hours
Chile – 300 hours
Colombia – 250 hours
USA – -190 hours
Mexico – 210 hours
Germany – 200 hours
Specifically, in what refers to transfer pricing information requests in the ECF, a high-level comparison shows that the number of the entry fields required in the ECF have increased significantly over the years and, with the most recent inclusions, the increase was of almost 120% in comparison with the first year of existence of the ECF.
Information according to Brazilian TP documentation requirements
In the first year (for 2014):
up to 40 entry fields
+ 120 %
Latest update (for 2020):
up to 90 entry fields
With respect to the new modifications included for FY 2020, it is important to note that the modifications will mainly affect the legal entities that use the 6th method (commodities) and/or the comparable methods to comply with transfer pricing rules.
Method New requirements
6th method
Additional details on listing price, date of shipment, description about the criteria used for the calculation of the benchmark price, among others
New entry fields were created fot the taxpayer to identify the specific adjustments adopted when calculating the benchmark price
Comparable
methods
Identification of comparables (identical or similar, according to law)
Additional details on the comparables
New entry fields were created for the taxpayer to identify the specific adjustments adopted when calculating the benchmark pri
This steady increase of the outflow of information regarding transactions subject to transfer pricing rules requires the taxpayer to be vigilant regarding compliance with the documen- tation requirements, especially considering that heavy fines may be imposed for submitting the ECF with missing or incorrect information.
Stephanie Makin sjm@machado associados.com.br
Gabriel Nassar Lacerda gnl@machado associados.com.br
Previously published in the WTS Newsletter