Companies and individuals with international investments must pay close attention to their reporting obligations before the Central Bank of Brazil (BCB). Current regulations establish different mandatory declarations relating both to the receipt of foreign capital in Brazil and to the holding of Brazilian assets abroad, with specific deadlines and requirements depending on the volume of assets involved.
Below is a practical summary of the main obligations to be taken into account for the coming financial years.
Foreign Direct Investment in Brazil: SCE-IED System
Pursuant to BCB Resolution No. 278/2022, as amended by BCB Resolution No. 348/2023, and within the framework of Law No. 14.286/2021, Brazilian companies that receive foreign direct investment are subject to the following reporting obligations in the SCE-IED system (Foreign Capital Registry).
Five-Year Periodic Declaration (Mandatory)
All companies receiving foreign direct investment with total assets equal to or greater than BRL 100,000.00 must submit the Five-Year Periodic Declaration.
- Reference date: 31 December 2025
- Filing period: from 5 January 2026 to 31 March 2026
To comply with this obligation, at a minimum the following documentation will be required:
- Balance Sheet as at 31/12/2025
- Income Statement (P&L) as at 31/12/2025
- Questionnaire with additional information required by the system
This declaration replaces the former Census of Foreign Capital in Brazil, which is no longer submitted separately.
Quarterly Declarations for Large Companies
Companies receiving foreign direct investment with total assets equal to or greater than BRL 300,000,000.00 must also submit quarterly declarations in the SCE-IED system.
The established calendar is as follows:
- By 30 June 2026, with reference date 31/03/2026
- By 30 September 2026, with reference date 30/06/2026
- By 31 December 2026, with reference date 30/09/2026
The supporting documentation required in these cases consists of trial balances corresponding to each reference date.
Records of Changes in Shareholding Structure
Records of changes in the shareholding structure must be made only when:
- A new foreign shareholder enters, which requires the issuance of a new SCE-IED number, or
- A foreign shareholder exits, which entails the deactivation of the corresponding SCE-IED number.
These records are not periodic and are submitted only when the relevant corporate event occurs.
Brazilian Capital Abroad: CBE / DCBE Declaration
The Declaration of Brazilian Capital Abroad (CBE or DCBE) is regulated by BCB Resolution No. 279/2022 and applies to both individuals and legal entities resident, domiciled or headquartered in Brazil that hold assets, goods or rights vis-à-vis non-residents.
Annual Declaration
The annual declaration must be submitted by those holding assets abroad valued at USD 1,000,000 or more (or the equivalent in another currency), with reference date 31/12/2025.
- Filing period: from 18 February 2026 to 5 April 2026, until 6:00 p.m.
Quarterly Declaration
In addition to the annual declaration, quarterly declarations are mandatory for those holding assets abroad valued at more than USD 100,000,000 (or the equivalent in another currency).
The applicable deadlines are:
- Annual declaration (31/12/2025):
from 18/02/2026 to 05/04/2026 (until 6:00 p.m.) - Quarterly declaration (31/03/2026):
from 30/04/2026 to 05/06/2026 (until 6:00 p.m.) - Quarterly declaration (30/06/2026):
from 31/07/2026 to 05/09/2026 (until 6:00 p.m.) - Quarterly declaration (30/09/2026):
from 31/10/2026 to 05/12/2026 (until 6:00 p.m.)
Important: Penalties for Non-Compliance
Late submission, omission or incorrect filing of any of the mandatory declarations may result in financial penalties, in accordance with Article 66 of BCB Resolution No. 131/2021.
Feliu N&I Can Advise You
At Feliu N&I we have a specialised team in internationalisation, foreign investment and regulatory compliance before the Central Bank of Brazil.
We support companies and individuals in:
- Identifying their reporting obligations
- Preparing and reviewing the required documentation
- Correct and timely submission of SCE-IED and CBE/DCBE declarations
- Managing corporate changes and registrations before the BCB
If you have investments in Brazil or assets abroad and wish to avoid risks, penalties and errors, our team can help you manage the entire process with confidence and rigour.
