A foreign company that opens or acquires a business in Brazil needs a local accounting firm from the first day. Not as a formality: the Brazilian entity must keep statutory books in Portuguese and reais, calculate and pay taxes at three levels of government every month, report payroll to the government in real time and file digital books that the tax authority reads line by line. Headquarters, meanwhile, needs numbers it can consolidate. This guide explains what accounting services in Brazil include for a foreign-owned company, what to expect from the provider month by month, and how to judge whether the service is working.
Why a local accountant is unavoidable
- A regulated profession: only accountants registered with the Regional Accounting Council (CRC) may keep books and prepare financial statements, and accounting firms must have registered accountants as technical managers (Decree-Law 9,295/1946).
- Local books and filings: the books must be in Portuguese and reais and are filed digitally with the Federal Revenue (see SPED, ECD and ECF explained).
- A dense tax calendar: federal, state and municipal obligations every month, cross-checked automatically (see monthly tax compliance in Brazil).
- Change every year: 2026 and 2027 bring the consumption tax reform, a new dividend tax and new reporting rules.
The services, and who usually provides them
| Service | What it involves | Typically |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping and statutory accounts | Monthly close, trial balance, annual financial statements, ECD | Core |
| Tax compliance | Tax calculation, payment slips, monthly returns, ECF, tax certificates | Core |
| Payroll | Payroll, eSocial, FGTS, vacation, 13th salary, terminations | Core or separate contract |
| Corporate and Central Bank | Registry filings, CNPJ updates, SCE-IED declarations | Often extra |
| Group reporting | Group chart of accounts, IFRS or US GAAP adjustments, reporting package | Varies widely |
| Tax advisory | Choice of regime, transfer pricing, tax reform planning, specific opinions | Usually separate |
| Finance operations | Payables, receivables, reconciliations, cash flow | Separate (BPO) |
The most frequent source of disappointment is assuming that “accounting” includes group reporting or Central Bank filings. Put every expected deliverable in the contract, which Brazilian rules require to be written and detailed (CFC Resolution 1,590/2020). See outsourced accounting in Brazil.
What a good month looks like
- First days of the month: the company sends invoices, contracts, bank statements and payroll changes, through an agreed channel.
- By mid-month: withholdings and payroll taxes are calculated and payment slips sent for approval; payroll is closed.
- By the 20th: payroll taxes and FGTS are paid.
- Before the group deadline: the close is delivered, reconciled, with the reporting package and explanations of significant variations.
- By the last business day: DCTFWeb and remaining federal taxes are filed and paid.
- Every month: a short status report: filings made, taxes paid, notices received, certificate status, open issues.
How to judge the service
| Indicator | What good looks like |
|---|---|
| Timeliness | The close and the reporting package arrive on the agreed date, every month |
| Accuracy | Balances reconcile with banks, the tax returns and the group package; few late adjustments |
| Tax health | No unexplained notices; federal tax clearance certificate available (see tax clearance certificates in Brazil) |
| Communication | Questions from headquarters answered clearly, in the agreed language and time |
| Proactivity | Changes in law and their effect on the company are flagged before they apply |
If these indicators fail repeatedly, it may be time to consider a new provider (see changing accounting firms in Brazil).
What stays with the company
Outsourcing the work does not outsource responsibility. Under the National Tax Code, tax penalties do not depend on intent, so they fall on the company even when the error was the provider’s; the company has recourse against the provider under the Civil Code. The company remains responsible for sending complete information on time, approving payments and tax positions, and signing the annual management representation letter that Brazilian accounting rules require.
Choosing the provider
Check the firm’s CRC registration, ask who will work on your account and who signs the books, compare proposals on the same detailed scope, and agree the exit terms before signing. Our guide to choosing an accounting firm in Brazil has a list of questions to ask.
How Solidy can help
Solidy already serves subsidiaries of multinational companies in Brazil. Our accounting, tax compliance and payroll teams work to a written scope and a monthly calendar agreed with headquarters, deliver the close with the group reporting package and report the tax situation every month. See our accounting service or talk to our Brazil accounting specialists.
Related guides
Sources
- Decree-Law 9,295/1946, articles 12, 15 and 25 (accounting profession). planalto.gov.br
- CFC Resolution 1,590/2020 (written contract for accounting services). cfc.org.br
- National Tax Code, article 136, and Civil Code, articles 1,177 and 1,178. planalto.gov.br
- Civil Code, article 1,183 (books in Portuguese and national currency). planalto.gov.br
- Federal Revenue, tax agenda (monthly due dates). gov.br
Information only, updated October 2026. Not a substitute for advice on your specific case.
