The Individual Taxpayer Registry (CPF) is the Brazilian taxpayer's identification number, a number granted by the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service to Brazilians and resident foreigners who pay taxes or participate, directly or indirectly, in activities that generate income for any of the dozens of types of taxes existing in Brazil.
CPF has 11 digits, with nine digits at the base and two digits at the end which are the result of an arithmetic operation on the first nine numbers, meaning that any typing error will result in an invalid number. Here's an example of a CPF: 231.002.999-00
The CNPJ is also a taxpayer identification number, but it is used for companies, not individuals. All companies incorporated in Brazil must apply for a CNPJ number at the time of incorporation. Foreign companies wishing to invest or own assets in Brazil must also have a CNPJ number.
The CNPJ is a 14-digit number; 12 base digits and two digits at the end which are the result of an arithmetic formula of the base numbers, any typing error when entering the number leads to an invalid number. Here is an example of a CNPJ: XX.YAX.532/0001-09.