Brazilian Tax Reform Sparks Debate on Arbitration and Business Impacts
Unimarb's upcoming congress will explore the 2026 Brazilian tax reform's impact on businesses and the growing role of arbitration in tax disputes.
- • Unimarb hosts VI Congresso de Mediação e Arbitragem on May 7, focusing on tax reform impacts.
- • New tax rules include CBS, IBS, and Selective Tax, affecting multiple tax regimes.
- • Panels address practical negotiation and arbitration with tax authorities at various levels.
- • Discussion covers mediation, arbitration boundaries, and legal security in tax conflicts.
Key details
The União das Instituições Arbitrais, Mediadores e Árbitros do Brasil (Unimarb) is set to host the VI Congresso de Mediação e Arbitragem on May 7, 2026, focusing on the wide-ranging effects of the recent Brazilian tax reform on the country's business environment. This online event aims to dissect the practical and legal challenges stemming from the reform, which introduces new fiscal regulations such as the Contribution on Goods and Services (CBS), the Goods and Services Tax (IBS), and the Selective Tax.
Lawyer Lina Santin from Heleno Torres Advogados will analyze how these changes affect various tax regimes, including Simples Nacional and special tax regimes, as well as the end of certain tax incentives and changes to the organization of tax credits. The event will also examine immediate consequences for sectors like services and real estate.
A significant portion of the congress will address dispute resolution, spotlighting "Transação e arbitragem tributária" (tax negotiation and arbitration). This panel will explore practical negotiation techniques with tax authorities across federal, state, and municipal levels, covering eligibility conditions, financial benefits, and the provision of legal certainty. Discussions will also touch upon the scope and potential of tax arbitration, fiscal mediation, and administrative negotiation as effective conflict resolution mechanisms within the evolving tax landscape.
Coordinated by José Celso Martins and moderated by Paulo Hamilton Siqueira Jr., with support from the Centro de Mediação e Arbitragem de São Paulo (Tasp), the congress promises to provide clarity amid the complexities introduced by the tax reform. Registration for this insightful event is currently open but limited in capacity.
This gathering is particularly timely as businesses, lawyers, and arbitrators grapple with understanding and adapting to the new tax framework, aiming to mitigate risks and leverage opportunities in Brazil's changing fiscal environment.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
