Brazil's federal government announced on Tuesday (Sept 29), five days before the first round of national elections, a package to renegotiate federal debts owed by individual microentrepreneurs (MEIs), rural producers, employers and former research scholarship holders. The centerpiece is Desenrola MEI Pequeno Valor, a program created by the PGFN, the Treasury office that manages the federal government's overdue tax debt, covering liabilities of up to five minimum wages, about 8,105 reais. The MEI is a simplified legal status that lets one-person businesses operate formally.
The rules require a down payment of 5% of the debt, with no discount. The balance can be paid in up to 55 monthly installments, with a 50% reduction. Sign-up opens on Oct 1, 2026. The two outlets that covered the announcement disagree on the deadline: G1 reports Jan 31, 2027, while Poder360 says July 31, 2027.
Employers, rural producers and scholarship holders
The PGFN also opened a track for employers, both individuals and companies, with consolidated liabilities of up to 45 million reais registered in the active debt of the FGTS, Brazil's mandatory severance fund, or of the federal government. Companies listed in the registry of employers caught subjecting workers to slavery-like conditions are barred, G1 reports.
Three existing programs had their sign-up windows extended until Jan 29, 2027: the general settlement track, for debts of up to 45 million reais registered by March 3, 2026; Desenrola MEI, which covers debts of up to 20,000 reais, according to Poder360; and Desenrola Rural. Discounts reach 100% on interest, fines and charges, and never touch the principal. The total write-off is capped at 65% of the consolidated debt, a ceiling that rises to 70% for individuals, MEIs, micro-enterprises, small businesses, cooperatives and the charity hospitals known as Santas Casas.
The AGU, the government's legal counsel, launched a settlement offer for MEIs with debts of up to five minimum wages owed to federal agencies and foundations, including telecom regulator Anatel, transport regulator ANTT, oil regulator ANP, environmental agency ICMBio, DNIT, Incra and FNDE. The government estimate, as reported by G1, is about 10,000 debtors and 50 million reais in credits. The AGU also created two tracks for former scholarship holders of Capes and CNPq, the main federal research agencies, open from Oct 16, 2026 to March 31, 2027, with discounts of up to 70% for cash payment and up to 30% for installments over as long as 84 months.
For producers and small merchants, the package trades charges for time: debtors pay the principal in long installments and close their liabilities with the federal tax office. For the public purse, the calculation runs the other way: the government gives up fines and interest up to the 65% and 70% caps and collects an upfront 5% payment on registered debts. Consumers are not directly affected, since the programs cover debts owed to the federal government, the FGTS and federal agencies, not bank or supplier debt.