IR 2026: Brazil breaks record with 44.3 million declarations

The 2026 Income Tax campaign had a historic record in the number of declarations, with 44,393,571 sent by taxpayers, according to data from the Federal Revenue. The total number of taxpayers who declared their income grew 2.4% compared to last year.

The Revenue also reported that there was an increase in the percentage of people who used the pre-filled declaration to send the information to the Tax Authorities. 59.8% of taxpayers adhered to the model.

The index is the highest ever recorded since the pre-populated option became available. In the first year in force, in 2021, the model was adopted by only 1.9% of declarants; Last year, the amount was around 50% of shipments.

The Revenue celebrated the progress in the use of the pre-filled declaration, but highlighted that, even so, the resource "does not exempt the taxpayer from responsibility", and it remains necessary to review the data that the Tax System pre-selects.

"The results of the IR 2026 campaign show the continued growth in the number of declarations delivered, the consolidation of pre-filled ones and the expansion of the use of digital tools by taxpayers, reflecting the greater adoption of solutions that simplify compliance with tax obligations", said the note from the Federal Revenue Service.

The option of sending income through the official app also increased, with 22% of deliveries. The most used system was still the official website, which represented 78% of the way to release the declarations.

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Possible fines
Also in the balance sheet this Monday (1st), the Federal Revenue Service reinforced that taxpayers who missed the deadline to send the declaration may be fined by the agency.

Even after the deadline, which was May 29th, those who have not declared must send the information. The fine is calculated based on the time of delay - that is, the sooner the taxpayer regularizes their status with the tax authorities, the lower the interest will be.

Those who miss the deadline are now subject to a fine calculated at 1% per month on the total tax to be paid, with a minimum value of R$ 165.74 and a maximum of 20% of IR.

In addition, the CPF may have a "pending regularization" status, which may create difficulties in taking out credit, obtaining financing, issuing a passport, participating in public tenders and carrying out other financial operations.

*Under the supervision of João Nakamura

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Source: CNN