Understanding Brazil's New Alphanumeric CNPJ

Understanding Brazil's New Alphanumeric CNPJ

The Brazilian Federal Revenue Service (Receita Federal do Brasil) has announced a major modernization to the national business registry. Starting in July 2026, new company registrations will adopt an alphanumeric Brazilian CNPJ (Cadastro Nacional da Pessoa Jurídica) format, meaning that the unique identifier for businesses will now include both letters and numbers.

New Structure of the Brazilian CNPJ

• The CNPJ will still have 14 characters, just like the current version.
• The first 8 positions (root) may contain both letters and numbers.
• The next 4 positions (branch identifier) will also be alphanumeric.
• The last 2 digits will remain numeric as verification digits.

Example: something like A1B2C3D4/E5F6-78, where 78 are the numeric check digits.

Why the Change?

• The numerical sequence for CNPJs was reaching its limit due to the growing number of registered businesses and branches.
• Adding letters exponentially increases the number of possible combinations, ensuring the system's sustainability for decades.
• The change modernizes Brazil's corporate registry and enhances compatibility with other digital systems.

What Stays the Same

• Existing CNPJs will not change. All current numeric CNPJs remain valid indefinitely.
• Businesses with older registrations do not need to replace or update their CNPJ numbers.
• Contracts, invoices, and official records will continue to recognize current numeric CNPJs.

Timeline

Impact on Companies and Systems

Existing Businesses

• No changes are required for your current CNPJ number.
• However, companies should review their software systems (ERPs, invoicing, accounting platforms) to ensure that they can handle letters in CNPJ fields.

New Registrations (from July 2026)

• Any new company or branch registered after the rollout may receive an alphanumeric Brazilian CNPJ.
• Internal and external systems (supplier, accounting, or tax platforms) must be compatible with both numeric and alphanumeric identifiers.

For Developers and IT Teams

• CNPJ validation logic must be updated to accept letters in the first 12 positions.
• The verification digits (last two numbers) will continue to follow the standard modulo-11 algorithm, adjusted to interpret letters according to specific rules from Receita Federal.

Preparing for the Change

1. Audit your systems to check if CNPJ fields allow letters and numbers.
2. Contact your software vendors to confirm updates for the new format.
3. Update contracts and forms to accept alphanumeric Brazilian CNPJs.
4. Train accounting and IT teams to handle the new identifiers correctly.
5. Stay informed by following official Receita Federal communications about the rollout.

Final Thoughts

The alphanumeric Brazilian CNPJ represents a significant evolution in how companies are registered and identified in Brazil. While existing businesses will see little immediate impact, those developing or maintaining business systems should start adapting now to ensure a smooth transition in 2026.

Preparing ahead of time will help prevent disruptions and guarantee that your systems are fully compatible when the new format becomes reality.