On February 19, the Congress set up a joint committee made up of 25 senators and 25 deputies to analyze the tax reform. The committee will study the two bills under discussion in both chambers and draw up a single initiative. It will also study any recommendations sent by the Executive. Legislators will have 45 days to consolidate the text.

Over the second half of 2019, the Chamber of Deputies (read bill here) and the Senate (read bill here) each worked on a different text for the fiscal bill. Although the Executive initially wanted to send a third bill, the Government announced that it would make suggestions to Congress so that legislators could study its possible incorporation. No formal proposal has as yet been received from President Bolsonaro’s office.

The legislators expect to pass the tax reform in the first half of 2020. “We only have until the middle of the year, because in the second half we are holding municipal elections (…) therefore, we have a very tight agenda,” said Roberto Rocha (Partido da Social Democracia Brasileira – allied to the ruling party), who will chair the special committee. The committee’s first meeting is scheduled for March 3.