The Federal Revenue Service (RFB) warns the public against circulating false information that claims PIX transactions are monitored for tax purposes. Authorities emphasise that financial transactions via PIX are not taxed, and spreading fake news can fuel crime and financial scams.
Brazil’s tax authority, the Federal Revenue Service (RFB) issued a warning to the public on 14 January 2026 regarding false claims circulating on social media that PIX transactions are being monitored for taxation purposes.
Authorities stressed that such information is entirely false and constitutionally prohibited, as financial transactions cannot be taxed.
According to the agency, these fake news campaigns often serve the interests of organised crime, misleading the public and creating unnecessary financial panic.
The controversy centres around Normative Instruction No. 2,278 of 2025, which has been misrepresented online as a measure to monitor PIX transactions. In reality, the instruction merely extends to fintech companies the same transparency obligations that have long applied to traditional financial institutions, without detailing or identifying individual transactions. The regulation is intended to prevent the misuse of fintech platforms for money laundering and asset concealment, as seen in Operation Hidden Carbon.
The agency also noted that those who spread misinformation can profit from social media engagement, undermining trust in Brazil’s PIX system.
Authorities highlighted a positive fact often overlooked in these misleading narratives: from January 2026, individuals earning up to BRL 5,000 are fully exempt from income tax, while those earning up to BRL 7,350 benefit from tax reductions.
