Petrobras (PBR)

 

Law No. 9,779 of January 1, 1999 states that, except for limited prescribed circumstances, income derived from transactions by a beneficiary, resident or domiciliary of a country considered a tax haven is subject to withholding income tax at the rate of 25%. Tax havens are generally considered to be countries which do not impose any income tax or which impose such tax at a maximum rate of less than 20%. Law No. 11,727 of June 23, 2008 expanded the list of characteristics that may classify a country as a tax haven. The Brazilian Revenue Service currently maintains a list of countries and jurisdictions considered to be tax havens and may amend this list to include other countries or jurisdictions due to this new law. Accordingly, if the distribution of interest attributed to shareholders’ equity is made to a beneficiary resident or domiciled in a tax haven jurisdiction, the applicable income tax rate will be 25% instead of 15%. Capital gains are not subject to this 25% tax, even if the beneficiary is resident in a tax haven jurisdiction. See “—Taxation of Gains.”