Sending business payments from the US to Brazil
A US company pays a Brazilian supplier, contractor or subsidiary by SWIFT wire to its Brazilian bank, where the recipient closes a foreign exchange contract to receive reais, or through a provider that converts dollars and pays reais inside Brazil. You need the recipient's legal name, CNPJ, bank, branch and account number, and a clear payment purpose so its bank can classify the exchange.
- The Banco Central do Brasil states that foreign currency sent from abroad does not go directly into the beneficiary's account: the beneficiary must first carry out an exchange operation with an authorized institution.
- Resolution BCB 277 requires the institution to notify the beneficiary immediately when a payment arrives, and spot exchange contracts settle within two business days.
- Since 1 October 2026, Resolution BCB 575 lets companies that export goods hold a foreign currency deposit account in Brazil and credit export proceeds to it.
- Pix moves reais between accounts in Brazil in seconds, at any hour, but it is a domestic system: a US account cannot send a Pix directly.
- From July 2026, new CNPJ registrations are alphanumeric, so accounts payable systems must accept letters in the 14-character tax number.
Details to collect from a Brazilian recipient
Brazilian bank accounts are identified by bank, branch (agência) and account number (conta), and the recipient company by its CNPJ (Cadastro Nacional da Pessoa Jurídica), the 14-character tax registration number issued by the Receita Federal. From July 2026 new CNPJ registrations can contain letters; existing numbers do not change. Bradesco asks for payments from abroad to arrive as an authenticated SWIFT message, preferably an MT103.
| Detail | What to ask for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficiary name | Full legal name (razão social) | The bank checks name, branch and account against its records |
| CNPJ | 14 characters, possibly alphanumeric for new companies | Bradesco asks for the beneficiary's CPF or CNPJ |
| Bank, SWIFT code, branch and account | Bank name, 8 or 11-character SWIFT code, agência and conta | Routes the wire and identifies the account |
| Address | Street, city and state | Part of the beneficiary data Bradesco lists |
| Purpose | Invoice number and nature of payment, for example payment for goods | The recipient uses it to classify the exchange contract |
| Pix key (for a local payout) | The key the recipient registered, or bank, branch, account and tax number | A provider paying reais in Brazil may use Pix for the last step |
Sources: Bradesco, payment orders from abroad; Receita Federal, CNPJ Alfanumérico; Banco Central do Brasil, Sobre o Pix. As published on 29 October 2026.
The Banco Central do Brasil describes a Pix key as an alias for an account, such as a tax number, mobile number, email address or random key, and notes that a Pix can also be made with the bank, branch and account number plus the recipient's tax number.
Pay in reais or in US dollars?
Both are legal. Resolution BCB 277 allows export receipts to enter Brazil in reais or in foreign currency, whatever the contract currency. The real difference is who converts and when.
If you send dollars, the supplier's bank buys them from the supplier under a contrato de câmbio, the exchange contract that records the amount, the rate and the purpose. The central bank tells beneficiaries that the funds become available in reais only after that operation. Resolution BCB 277 requires the bank to notify the beneficiary immediately when the order arrives, and lets the order be negotiated in full or in part.
There is one new exception. Since 1 October 2026, Resolution BCB 575 allows companies that export goods to hold a foreign currency deposit account in Brazil, credited only with export proceeds and other amounts from abroad. A goods exporter with such an account can keep your dollars as dollars. Service companies are not in the new list.
| Invoice | What you send | Who converts | Who carries exchange risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| USD | Dollars by SWIFT | Supplier's bank, under an exchange contract | Supplier |
| BRL | Reais, converted before or as the payment is made | You or your provider | You |
| USD to a goods exporter's foreign currency account | Dollars by SWIFT | Nobody until the exporter chooses | Supplier |
Sources: Resolução BCB 277; Resolução BCB 575; Banco Central do Brasil FAQ. As published on 29 October 2026.
See the USD to BRL currency page for conversion, and USD business accounts in Brazil for the Brazilian side.
Rails and arrival times
A SWIFT payment to Brazil has two stages. The dollars first travel to the Brazilian bank: Swift reports that nearly 60% of payments sent with its gpi tracking service are credited to end beneficiaries within 30 minutes and almost 100% within 24 hours. Then the recipient closes the exchange contract, and Resolution BCB 277 sets settlement of spot contracts within two business days, not counting non-business days in either currency's market.
Pix is the second route. The central bank describes it as instant, available at any hour of any day, and settled in a few seconds, between current, savings and prepaid payment accounts in Brazil. A provider that converts your dollars in Brazil can use it to deliver reais.
| Stage or route | Published timing | What controls it |
|---|---|---|
| SWIFT transit to the Brazilian bank | Nearly 60% of gpi payments within 30 minutes; almost 100% within 24 hours | Correspondent banks and screening |
| Exchange contract settlement | Within two business days for spot contracts | Recipient's documents and Brazilian and US business days |
| Local reais payout by Pix | Seconds, 24/7 | Provider with access to Brazilian rails |
Sources: Swift gpi; Resolução BCB 277, Article 38; Banco Central do Brasil, Pix. As published on 29 October 2026.
Documents and purpose of payment
Bradesco states that the documents it asks for depend on how the operation is classified, for example an export of goods. The central bank tells beneficiaries to check with their bank before the money is sent that they have those documents. In practice, the recipient needs your commercial invoice number and a clear description to match the wire to its export or service record.
Send the MT103 copy and the UETR, the SWIFT tracking reference, on the day you pay, so the supplier can close the contract without waiting for its bank to find the payment. For a subsidiary, state whether the payment is for goods, services, a loan or capital, because each is classified differently.
On the US side, every payment to a Brazilian recipient must pass sanctions screening: OFAC states that all US persons, including all US incorporated entities and their foreign branches, must comply with US sanctions, so the payer, the recipient and the recipient's bank are checked before the money moves.
Costs: Helm fees, intermediary deductions, SHA and OUR
On a dollar wire, the supplier's bank shows it the VET (Valor Efetivo Total), the total effective rate including the exchange rate, IOF tax and fees, which Resolution BCB 277 requires before spot operations up to US$100,000. That cost sits with the recipient, so agree it when you agree the invoice currency. Every SWIFT wire carries a charge code. OUR means the sender pays all charges, so the full amount should arrive. SHA means charges are shared: the sender pays its own provider, and intermediary banks may deduct their fees in transit. BEN means every charge comes out of the amount sent. For a full-value invoice, send OUR. Helm international payments show the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm, and the account manager confirms the route for each corridor.
Helm agrees pricing with each business in writing before the account opens, and shows the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm each payment. See how Helm pricing works.
Why payments to Brazil are delayed or returned
| Cause | Fix |
|---|---|
| Name differs from the razão social | Use the full registered company name |
| Missing branch number or account check digit | Ask for agência and conta exactly as on the bank letter |
| CNPJ missing, wrong or rejected by your system | Accept alphanumeric CNPJs and copy it from the invoice |
| Exchange contract not closed | Send the MT103 and UETR so the supplier can act |
| Unclear purpose | State the invoice and that it pays for goods or services |
| Deductions in transit | Send OUR for invoices that must be paid in full |
Sources: Bradesco; Receita Federal; Banco Central do Brasil. As published on 29 October 2026.
Most holds clear when a missing detail is supplied; resending the money risks paying twice. Our guide on how to pay suppliers in Brazil adds the 2026 and 2027 holiday calendar.
Checklist before you send
- Collect the razão social, CNPJ, bank, branch and account, and accept alphanumeric CNPJs in your system.
- Agree USD or BRL and the charge code on the purchase order.
- Write the purpose and invoice number in the payment reference.
- Send the MT103 and UETR the same day so the supplier can close the exchange contract.
- Allow up to two Brazilian business days for spot settlement.
Open a Helm account
USD, EUR and GBP accounts in your company's name, with a named account manager.
Open accountQuestions
What details do I need to pay a company in Brazil from the US?
You need the full legal name, CNPJ, address, bank name and SWIFT code, branch and account number, and the purpose of the payment. Ask for them on letterhead and confirm them by phone.
Can I send a Pix from the United States?
No. Pix moves reais between accounts in Brazil. A provider can convert your dollars and pay reais in Brazil, using Pix or another domestic transfer for the last step.
Why has my supplier not received the money I sent to Brazil?
Foreign currency does not go directly into a Brazilian account. The supplier must close an exchange contract with its bank, and spot contracts settle within two business days.
Can a Brazilian company keep US dollars?
Since 1 October 2026, companies that export goods may hold a foreign currency deposit account in Brazil under Resolution BCB 575. Other companies receive reais after the exchange contract.
Should I invoice a Brazilian supplier in BRL or USD?
Both are legal. With USD the supplier converts and carries the exchange risk; with BRL you convert and carry it. Write the choice on the purchase order.
What is a CNPJ?
The CNPJ is the 14-character tax registration number of a Brazilian company, issued by the Receita Federal. New registrations from July 2026 can include letters.
References
- Banco Central do Brasil: How to send money abroad or receive money from abroad in foreign currency (FAQ)
- Banco Central do Brasil: Resolução BCB 277
- Banco Central do Brasil: Resolução BCB 575 (18 June 2026)
- Banco Central do Brasil: Sobre o Pix
- Bradesco: Ordem de pagamento (payment orders from abroad)
- Receita Federal: CNPJ Alfanumérico
- Swift: Fast, transparent and trackable payments (gpi)
- U.S. Department of the Treasury, OFAC: Who must comply with OFAC sanctions? (FAQ 11)
This guide is general information for businesses, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and timings were checked against the sources listed on the review date and may change.