Without VR in Pix, government aims at rates to reduce impact of food inflation

Barely the idea of ​​making the payment of Valley-meal vouchers (VR) and food stamps (VA) through the pix It came up, the government had to go back. Although the discussions came from the economic wing, aiming to reduce the impacts of Food Inflationthe risk of deviation from the purpose of the benefit led the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE) to discard the idea. Now the focus is on reducing the fees charged by the operators.

According to the Brazilian Association of Workers Benefit Companies (ABBT), this percentage can vary between 3.5% and 8% – as it is freely defined by operators. Even so, the discount does not occur directly in the worker’s pocket at the time of purchase, but falls on commercial establishments.

To the InfomoneyLúcio Capelletto, CEO of the Association, explains that the rate charged is static, regardless of inflationary fluctuations. Therefore, if the price of a product rises, the percentage of the fee remains the same, but the amount paid by restaurants, bars and supermarkets to benefit companies accompanies this discharge.

Vr no pix would be the end of Pat?

For ABBT, which represents 95% of benefit companies in the country, changing the way the meal voucher and food voucher are paid can lead to the end of the Worker Food Program (PAT). This is because employers – especially small businesses – would lose their incentive to grant the optional benefit.

“The extinction of the program would leave ‘orphans’ 23 million Brazilians with income of up to five minimum wages, representing 86% of beneficiaries,” says Capelletto. In addition, he points out that receipt in cash would allow the benefit to be used for non -food purposes, including the purchase of alcohol, cigarettes, or even sports betting. “Just look at what happened recently with Bolsa Familia and Bets.”

• Also read: 2 actions collapse in Europe after news about exchange of meal vouchers for pix in Brazil

From the legal point of view, the assessment is that the proposal would go against Law 6.321/76, which established the PAT. “The legislation requires the meal voucher to be provided through agreements with food establishments, not in cash,” says Diego Gonçalves, labor lawyer at Benício Advogados.

According to him, to legitimize cash payment through Pix, it would be necessary to change the law to expressly allow the transfer of the benefit in kind and clearly define that the amount paid in kind is not part of the salary.

Tax and tax implications

Labor Law Experts also point out that making VR and VA payment through Pix could turn these benefits into fresh salary – which are not paid in cash, but are legally considered as part of the salary – with significant impacts on labor, social security and even taxes.

“This leads to automatic holidays, 13th salary, FGTS, Social Security (INSS) and other labor and social security charges,” warns Gonçalves.

Along with this, the form of payment by Pix can also affect taxation. Sérgio Pelcerman, a labor partner at Almeida Prado & Hoffmann, says that when paid in cash, the benefit can be considered taxable income, subject to the incidence of income tax.

Thus, workers who do not collect tax on the benefit today could have net income reduced, while companies would also lose tax incentives related to PAT adherence – such as the deduction of up to 4% of the income tax due.

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Operators

Discussions about the PAT gained strength after the increase in food inflation, which placed the government on alert earlier this year. The Extended Consumer Price Index (IPCA) closed 2024 by 4.83% and has accumulated, until April 2025, a 5.48% increase in 12 months. The goal for 2025 is 3%, which increases the pressure on the government by agile solutions.

The Brazilian Association of Supermarkets (Abras) even proposed that the PAT was operated directly by the government via payment in salary account. The estimates are that the payment of the direct benefit to the worker, without intermediaries, would bring savings of $ 10 billion per year to the sector.

On the other hand, ABBT stresses that rates subsidize the costs of accreditation and inspection of commercial points. “Facilitating companies are responsible for accrediting establishments to accept the benefit, checking the sale of quality foods such as beans, rice, protein and salad, as well as monitoring that program rules are fulfilled,” says Lúcio Capelletto.

Last week, the government turned back and the new proposal focuses on reducing the time of transfer of values ​​to retailers, reducing a period from 30 to 2 days, along with the standardization of the rates charged by benefit companies – the so -called Merchant Discount Rate (MDR). The Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE) advocates the setting of a ceiling between 3% and 4%.

“We are open to discussions and debate whether fees can be improved or reduced,” says the president of ABBT. According to him, the associated companies even presented to the Ministry of Finance, in 2023, reduction proposals for small and medium -sized establishments, which have lower bargaining power.

Asked if the association was recently sought by the government, either to talk about fee reductions or to collaborate in a joint change on the benefit payment means, Capelletto Nega. “We learned of these discussions by the news,” he says.