Address:
Av. Marques de São Vicente, 230 - Conjunto 1220, Barra Funda - São Paulo, SP - Brazil, 01141-010
Phone:
+55 11 2386-7976
Email:
In Brazil, an accountant (contador) keeps your books, files recurring tax and payroll obligations and keeps the company compliant. A tax consultant advises on structure, tax planning and complex decisions. A tax lawyer defends you in disputes. A foreign company usually needs accounting from day one and consulting at key decisions.
What does a Brazilian accountant do?
- Bookkeeping and financial statements
- Monthly and annual tax filings
- Payroll and labor obligations
- Day to day compliance with federal, state and municipal rules
What does a tax consultant do?
- Helps choose the entry structure and the tax regime
- Advises on cross border payments, withholding taxes and tax treaties
- Assesses the impact of the tax reform on your operation
- Plans dividends, royalties and intercompany flows
- Prepares the company for assessments and audits
What does a tax lawyer do?
A tax lawyer handles administrative and judicial disputes with tax authorities and issues legal opinions on complex or uncertain tax positions.
How do the three roles compare?
| Role | Main focus | Typical moment | Typical registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant | Bookkeeping, filings, payroll | Every month | CRC (Conselho Regional de Contabilidade) |
| Tax consultant | Planning and advice | Key decisions | Accountant or lawyer with tax specialization |
| Tax lawyer | Disputes and legal opinions | Assessments and litigation | OAB (Brazilian Bar Association) |
When does a foreign company need a consultant?
- Before choosing the entry structure and tax regime
- Before intercompany payments, royalties or loans
- When the tax reform changes your obligations
- After receiving a tax assessment
How do you choose a provider?
- Experience with foreign companies
- Clear communication in English
- A defined scope and transparent fees
- A team that covers accounting and consulting together, so advice and execution stay aligned
Frequently asked questions
Do I need both an accountant and a tax consultant? Most foreign companies do, at different moments. Accounting is continuous, and consulting is project or decision based.
Can one firm provide both? Yes, and it often reduces gaps between advice and execution.
Gescon combines BPO Services and Business Consulting under one team. Talk to us about the right setup for your company.
