Brazil is introducing an alphanumeric CNPJ (tax ID for companies) to increase the number of available business identifiers as the current 14-digit numeric format nears its limit. This update affects all important electronic fiscal document systems (NF-e (electronic invoices), NFC-e (retail receipts), CT-e (transport documents)), requiring updates to validation rules, XML schemas, barcodes, and ERP/POS systems. While no official deadline has been set, a transition period is expected. Businesses should start preparing by updating systems, running tests, and training staff.
Brazil Introduces Alphanumeric CNPJ to Expand Business IDs
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Author: Ljubica Blagojević
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Content accuracy validation date:
30.05.2025
Content accuracy validation time:
09:19h
Brazil’s current 14-digit numeric CNPJ system is running out of combinations due to the growing number of registered entities. To expand capacity, the Federal Revenue (Receita Federal) is introducing a new alphanumeric CNPJ, using both letters and numbers.
Impact on Electronic Fiscal Documents:
The change affects all major electronic fiscal document systems—NF-e, NFC-e, and CT-e—which rely on the CNPJ for:
- Validation checks
- Access important generation
- Barcodes and QR codes
- XML schema identification
Required Technical Adjustments
- XML Schema Updates: Modify schemas to accept letters in the CNPJ field.
- Validation Rules: Update algorithms to verify alphanumeric CNPJs.
- Barcode & Access Key: Adapt barcode and access key formats to handle letters.
- System Updates: ERP, POS, fiscal printers, and middleware must all support the new format.
Implementation Timeline:
No official deadline yet, but Receita Federal has started initial steps. A transition period is expected, where numeric and alphanumeric CNPJs will coexist.
Next Steps for Businesses and Developers
- Track Receita Federal updates
- Review and adapt validation and encoding systems
- Test with updated environments
Inform and train IT and operations teams
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