Income Tax 2026: How to Declare Your Investments Without Mistakes
Declaring investments in the 2026 Income Tax return (tax year 2025) often raises simple but costly questions: who needs to file, what goes into the return, and how to report tax-exempt products like LCI and LCA.
Declaring investments in the 2026 Income Tax return (tax year 2025) often raises simple but costly questions: who needs to file, what goes into the return, and how to report tax-exempt products like LCI and LCA. The short answer: use the earnings statement (informe de rendimentos) from your bank or brokerage as the basis for filling in your investment data, and pay attention — even IR-exempt investments must be declared. In this guide, you'll see who is required to file, how to handle each type of investment, and the most common mistakes.
Who is required to file the 2026 Income Tax return
According to the official Q&A from the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service (Receita Federal), an individual resident in Brazil must file the 2026 return if, in tax year 2025, they met at least one of these conditions:
- received taxable income above R$ 35,584.00;
- received exempt, non-taxable, or tax-withheld-at-source income above R$ 200,000.00;
- carried out stock exchange sales above R$ 40,000.00 or operations with taxable net gains;
- owned assets and rights above R$ 800,000.00 on December 31.
Note that there are two common ways to become required to file because of investments: accumulating exempt income above the ceiling (for example, many LCI/LCA redemptions over the year) or holding a substantial invested portfolio. Even those not required to file may have reasons to do so, such as proving income or receiving a refund.
The starting point: the earnings statement
The document that organizes everything is the earnings statement (informe de rendimentos) issued by the bank or brokerage. It contains:
- the CNPJ (tax ID) of the paying source;
- product balances as of December 31;
- earnings for the period;
- exempt and taxable amounts listed separately.
With the statement in hand, filling in the return becomes a verification task: you transfer the data to the correct sections of the Receita Federal's software. Don't declare "from memory" and don't use bank statements as the source — the earnings statement is the document the Receita cross-checks against your return (the infamous "malha fina" review starts when the numbers don't match). If an institution hasn't yet made its statement available, check the schedule it published or the one published by the Receita's own program before filling anything in.
How to declare each type of investment
Taxable fixed income: CDB, Tesouro Direto, and traditional debentures
CDB and Tesouro Direto currently follow the regressive income tax table, from 22.5% down to 15% depending on the holding period:
| Holding period | Income tax rate |
|---|---|
| Up to 180 days | 22.5% |
| 181 to 360 days | 20% |
| 361 to 720 days | 17.5% |
| Over 720 days | 15% |
The tax on CDB and Tesouro is withheld at source, so in the return you simply report balances and earnings — you don't pay anything additional. Provisional Measure (MP) 1.303/2025 proposed changes to investment taxation but expired on October 8, 2025 without Congressional approval, according to the Brazilian Congress. It must not be treated as current law. If you're filing for tax year 2025, the regressive table above applies.
Exempt fixed income: LCI, LCA, and incentivized debentures
LCI, LCA, and incentivized debentures are exempt from income tax for individuals — but that does not exempt you from declaring them. They must be reported in the Assets and Rights section (in the 2025 layout, Group 04, Code 03), and the earnings go in the Exempt and Non-Taxable Income section. Two cautions:
- Form-filling details are based on the program for each filing year; check the current layout when you open the 2026 tax software.
- Future legislation may change this exemption. However, MP 1.303/2025 expired on October 8, 2025 and is not currently a pending bill.
Stocks
For stock market investors, the most commonly used rule is the exemption on net gains from stock sales when total sales of the asset in the month are equal to or below R$ 20,000.00. Watch the exceptions: day trading does not qualify for the exemption, and redemptions from equity funds or investment clubs follow their own rules. Sales above the limit require calculating and paying tax on the gain — check the current payment deadline in the Receita's software or in the official guidance on variable income before paying the DARF tax slip.
Summary table: what is exempt and what is taxed
| Investment | Income tax for individuals | Must it be declared? |
|---|---|---|
| CDB | Yes, regressive table (22.5% to 15%) | Yes |
| Tesouro Direto | Yes, regressive table | Yes |
| LCI / LCA | Exempt (currently) | Yes |
| Incentivized debentures | Exempt (currently) | Yes |
| Stocks (sales up to R$ 20k/month) | Gain exempt, except day trading | Yes |
| Stocks (sales above R$ 20k/month) | Taxable gain | Yes |
Common mistakes when declaring investments
- Thinking "exempt" means "don't declare." Exempt LCI, LCA, and incentivized debentures still go into Assets and Rights and Exempt Income.
- Not using the earnings statement. Typing values from memory or from statements is the fastest route to the tax review net.
- Confusing tax year and filing year. The 2026 return covers 2025 earnings and balances.
- Forgetting that filing thresholds change. The amounts of R$ 35,584.00, R$ 200,000.00, and R$ 800,000.00 apply to tax year 2025 and may change in the next filing season.
- Ignoring the R$ 20,000 rule for stocks and selling above it without calculating the month's tax.
FAQ
Do income-tax-exempt investments need to be declared? Yes. Exemption means you don't pay tax on the earnings, but the asset and its earnings still must be reported on the return.
What happens if I don't declare a CDB? Besides the risk of the tax review net, omitting assets creates a wealth discrepancy that the Receita can identify by cross-checking statements from institutions.
Does the R$ 20,000 rule for stocks apply to day trading? No. The exemption applies to regular trades; day trading has its own treatment and doesn't qualify.
Has MP 1.303/2025 already changed the rates? No. MP 1.303/2025 expired on October 8, 2025 without Congressional approval. For the 2025 tax year, confirm the applicable rules in official Receita Federal guidance.
Conclusion
Declaring investments in the 2026 Income Tax return is simpler when you follow three steps: download the earnings statement from each institution, transfer the data to the correct sections (Assets and Rights, Taxable Income, and Exempt Income), and check whether you fall under any filing threshold. Keep your statements and receipts for a period that covers potential questions from the Receita — if in doubt about retention or payment deadlines, consult the official guidance from the Receita Federal. And remember: tax rules change — before making any decision based on this article, check the current rules on the Receita Federal's website.
Educational content; not individual investment advice. The 2026 Income Tax rules may change: MP 1.303/2025 expired on October 8, 2025, and should not be treated as effective law.
Read also: Complete fixed income guide, CDB, Tesouro or savings?, How much does R$ 1,000 earn in a CDB, How to build an investment portfolio and What is IPCA.
Official sources for the 2026 Brazilian income-tax return
Check the current official rules on the Receita Federal — Who must file page. For tax year 2026, referring to calendar year 2025, the listed thresholds include taxable income above R$ 35,584, exempt or exclusively taxed income above R$ 200,000, and total assets or rights above R$ 800,000. Other mandatory-filing triggers also apply, so do not rely on these three thresholds alone. Always check official Receita Federal FAQs and the tax-filing program instructions before making decisions.
