PODER360 – 22.02.2026
Resolution from Gecex adjusts tariffs on technology as part of a tax incentive plan for the sector; measure affects servers and network equipment; previous versions are prohibited.
The tariff increase applies to imported servers and equipment used in digital infrastructure.
The increase of up to 25% in the import tariff on servers and technology equipment has put pressure on the cost of deployment and expansion of data centers in Brazil. The measure, formalized in Resolution No. 852 of Gecex (Executive Management Committee of the Foreign Trade Chamber), was published at a time when the government is coordinating the Redata approval (Special Tax Regime for Data Center Services) and seeks to attract billions in investments to the sector.
In early February, Gecex detailed, through Resolution No. 852, adjustments to the NCM (Common Nomenclature of Mercosur) and revisions to import tax rates. Among the changes are tariffs that can reach 25% for high-capacity servers and network equipment, as well as higher rates for other technology goods, such as storage systems.
Representatives from ABDC (Brazilian Association of Data Centers), Abes (Brazilian Association of Software Companies), Brasscom (Association of Information and Communication Technology Companies), and other sector entities released a joint statement asserting that the tariff increase contradicts the framework of incentives that the government seeks to implement with Redata, and could compromise Brazil's competitiveness in the digital economy.
Redata is a special regime designed to reduce federal taxes—including IPI, PIS/Pasep, and Cofins—on the acquisition of equipment and components intended for the installation and expansion of data centers. The idea is to reduce the tax burden on investments in digital infrastructure and make the country a more attractive destination for large data processing centers, integrating benefits with counterparties such as the use of clean energy and minimum investment in research and development.
In February, the Chamber of Deputies approved the expedited procedure for the bill that... establishes Redata (PL 278/2026This would expedite the process and bypass the need for review by thematic committees. The government's strategy is to secure approval of the proposal in February, before the provisional measure currently governing the matter expires.
The sector projects that, with adequate incentives—including tax reductions and the potential state exemption of ICMS (Tax on the Circulation of Goods and Services)—Brazil could attract billions of dollars in investments in data centers in the coming years. However, the dissonance between the increase in import tariffs and the fiscal stimulus plans raises doubts about the regulatory environment and predictability for investors.
