BRAZILIAN FEDERAL REGIONAL COURT: IMPORTATION AND COFINS-IMPORTATION APPLIES TO (RE)INSURANCE BUSINESS

By Campos Mello Advogados, an independent law firm in Brazil in Cooperation with DLA Piper

The Brazilian Federal Regional Court recently unanimously decided that insurance policies and reinsurance agreements are equivalent to rendering of services; therefore PIS-importation and COFINS-importation (PIS/COFINS-importation) applies to premiums remitted abroad. Pursuant to Law No. 10.865/2004, PIS-importation and COFINS-importation applies to the remittance of amounts abroad as consideration for services rendered. The basis for calculation of these taxes is 15 percent over (re)insurance premiums remitted abroad.

The lawsuit, brought against an insurance company and a local reinsurer, debates whether social contributions PIS/COFINS-importation applies on premium of reinsurance remitted abroad.…
Continue Reading