Brazil’s ambitious push toward fully automated tax filing has hit a significant technical hurdle. As the 2026 filing season began, a substantial number of taxpayers found their "pre-filled" declarations flagged for inconsistencies. Accounting entities report that roughly 20% of early filers encountered errors in the data automatically imported by the Receita Federal, leading to a temporary spike in the number of returns held for audit, known locally as the *malha fina*.
The friction stems from a systemic shift in how the Brazilian government collects financial data. The traditional DIRF reporting method has been phased out in favor of eSocial and EFD-Reinf—more granular systems designed to streamline corporate reporting. However, the transition has not been seamless. In the opening days of the season, nearly 15% of initial filings were flagged, a rate significantly higher than historical norms, as discrepancies between corporate submissions and individual declarations emerged.
Federal officials suggest the situation is stabilizing as companies rectify their digital records. The audit rate has since fallen below 8%, signaling that the underlying data streams are beginning to align. For the taxpayer, the episode serves as a reminder that while automation promises convenience, the burden of verification remains personal. As the Receita Federal tightens its digital net, the pre-filled return remains a draft that requires human oversight.
With reporting from InfoMoney.
Source · InfoMoney
