> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.wepayments.com.br/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Cross-Border Business Payments (PJ Payments) This guide covers paying suppliers and employees in Brazil through business accounts (PJ), including required documentation, SLAs, using PIX for international payments, eligible recipients, and important compliance rules regarding CPF vs. CNPJ payments. ## **Overview** Cross-border business payments (PJ Payments) enable international companies to pay Brazilian suppliers, service providers, and employees efficiently and in compliance with local regulations. | **Use case** | **Examples** | | :---------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Supplier payments** | Marketing agencies, technology providers, logistics companies | | **Employee payments** | Remote workers, local representatives, payroll | | **Service provider payments** | Consultants, freelancers, legal services | | **Affiliate payments** | Commission payouts to Brazilian partners | > πŸ’‘ As long as the recipient has a bank account in Brazil (PJ or PF), you can pay them via WEpayments Payout. ## **How it works: step-by-step** | **Step** | **Description** | | :---------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **1. Contract establishment** | Commercial agreement between international company and Brazilian recipient | | **2. Document collection** | Gather invoice, Nota Fiscal, and contract | | **3. Payment creation** | Create Payout via Dashboard or API | | **4. Document submission** | Attach required documents to the transaction | | **5. Compliance validation** | WEpayments analyzes documents (SLA applies) | | **6. Payment execution** | Funds sent via PIX or TED to Brazilian recipient | ## **Required documentation** ### **Per transaction** | **Document** | **Description** | **Required for** | | :-------------- | :---------------------------------------------------- | :--------------- | | **Invoice** | Commercial invoice from the paying foreign company | Every payment | | **Nota Fiscal** | Brazilian tax invoice from the receiving company (PJ) | Every payment | ### **First transaction with each supplier (onboarding)** | **Document** | **Description** | **Reusable?** | | :---------------------- | :---------------------------- | :------------------------ | | **Commercial contract** | Agreement between the parties | Yes – for future payments | ### **Important document requirements** | **Requirement** | **Details** | | :------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Matching amounts** | Invoice and Nota Fiscal must have the same amount as the payment | | **Partial payments** | For installment payments, each invoice/NF must clearly describe which installment (e.g., "Payment 1 of 5: R\$2,000") | | **Valid documents** | Documents must be legible, complete, and correctly issued | > ⚠️ Documents with mismatched amounts will cause payment rejection. ## **Who can receive payments?** | **Recipient type** | **Eligible?** | **Documentation needed** | | :---------------------------------------------- | :------------ | :----------------------------------------- | | **Individuals (PF)** | Yes | CPF, bank details or PIX key | | **Legal entities (PJ)** | Yes | CNPJ, Nota Fiscal, bank details | | **Foreign companies without Brazilian account** | No | Recipient must have Brazilian bank account | ### **Examples of eligible payments** | **Payment type** | **Examples** | | :--------------- | :---------------------------------------------------- | | **Suppliers** | Marketing services, technology, consulting, logistics | | **Employees** | Remote workers, local representatives | | **Freelancers** | Design, development, content creation | | **Affiliates** | Commission payouts | | **Refunds** | Return of funds to Brazilian customers | ## **⚠️ Important compliance rule: CPF vs. CNPJ payments** When a service is contracted by a legal entity (PJ) and the Nota Fiscal is issued under that company's CNPJ, the expected financial flow is that payment should be made to the company that issued the invoice. ### **Risks of directing payment to an individual (CPF)** Directing payment to a CPF, even if it belongs to the company's partner/shareholder, may create significant legal, tax, and regulatory risks: | **Risk** | **Description** | | :------------------------------- | :--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Asset confusion** | Possible characterization of confusion between individual and legal entity, under articles 49-A and 50 of the Brazilian Civil Code | | **Tax inquiries** | Divergence between formal service provider (PJ), Nota Fiscal issuance, and actual funds recipient | | **Registration inconsistencies** | Mismatched data between contract, invoice, and payment beneficiary | | **AML/CFT risks** | Difficulty in proving the origin and destination of funds, with implications for anti-money laundering prevention | | **Tax assessments** | Failure to correctly account for and tax revenue under the CNPJ may result in tax assessments, fines, and other penalties | ### **What the rule states** > **For compliance, governance, and regulatory security reasons, payment must remain restricted to the Nota Fiscal issuer, through credit to an account linked to that CNPJ.** ### **Exception: When payment to CPF is permitted** Payment to CPF is permitted **when the service is provided by an individual (PF)** and the Nota Fiscal is issued under that individual's CPF. In this case, the expected flow is that payment should be directed to the individual service provider. | **Scenario** | **Correct?** | **Reason** | | :--------------------------------------------- | :----------- | :-------------------------------------------- | | **PJ contracts PJ β†’ payment to PJ** | βœ… Correct | Nota Fiscal issued under the provider's CNPJ | | **PJ contracts PJ β†’ payment to partner's CPF** | ❌ Incorrect | Risk of asset confusion and tax inconsistency | | **PJ contracts PF β†’ payment to PF's CPF** | βœ… Correct | Nota Fiscal issued under the individual's CPF | ## **Service Level Agreements (SLAs)** | **Scenario** | **SLA** | | :--------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------------------- | | **First payment to a new supplier** | Up to 3 business days for document validation | | **Subsequent payments to same supplier** | Up to 1 business day | > πŸ’‘ After the first payment with contract on file, subsequent payments are faster. ## **Using PIX for international payments to Brazil** | **Question** | **Answer** | | :-------------------------------------- | :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Can I use PIX directly from abroad?** | No. You cannot link a foreign bank account directly to PIX | | **How does it work?** | You need a payment service provider like WEpayments | | **WEpayments role** | Receives your foreign currency, converts to BRL, and sends via PIX to the Brazilian beneficiary | | **Currency** | PIX payments are always in Brazilian reais (BRL) | > πŸ’‘ PIX is the fastest way to pay beneficiaries in Brazil – 24/7, instant settlement. ## **Intercompany payment restrictions** Due to **BCB Resolution nΒΊ 561/2026**, intercompany payments (where paying and receiving companies share corporate structure) are **not permitted** under the eFX model. | **Restriction** | **Details** | | :--------------------- | :-------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **What is prohibited** | Payments between companies with shared corporate ownership | | **Why** | May be interpreted as capital transfers or loans – not allowed in eFX | | **Solution** | Use traditional FX market for intercompany operations | > ⚠️ Ensure the Brazilian receiving company does not share corporate structure with the paying foreign company. ## **Document templates and resources** WEpayments provides resources to facilitate your documentation process: | **Resource** | **Description** | | :-------------------------------- | :--------------------------------------------------------- | | **Standardized invoice template** | Available in the Help Center or via invoice generator link | | **Nota Fiscal example** | To guide Brazilian recipients on correct issuance | | **Contract template** | Contact support for guidance | ## **Best practices for cross-border business payments** | **Practice** | **Why it helps** | | :------------------------------- | :----------------------------------------- | | **Keep contract on file** | Speeds up subsequent payments | | **Submit complete documents** | Prevents validation delays | | **Ensure amount consistency** | Invoice and NF must match payment amount | | **Use Data Collect** | Beneficiaries self-report, reducing errors | | **Plan ahead for first payment** | Allow 3 business days for validation | ## **Next steps** * **Enable cross-border payments:** Contact our team to activate your account * **API integration:** Use our API for automated payment creation and document submission * **Documentation questions:** Reach out to our Compliance team for specific guidance ## **Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)** **1. Can I pay a Brazilian employee via PIX?**\ Yes. Employees with PIX keys linked to their bank account can receive payments instantly. **2. What is the difference between invoice and Nota Fiscal?**\ Invoice: commercial document from the foreign payer. Nota Fiscal: Brazilian tax document from the local recipient. Both are required. **3. How long does the first payment take?**\ Up to 3 business days for document validation. **4. How long do subsequent payments take?**\ Up to 1 business day once the contract is registered. **5. What happens if my invoice and Nota Fiscal amounts don't match?**\ The payment will be rejected. Amounts must match exactly. **6. Can I pay a Brazilian supplier in a foreign currency?**\ No. Payments to Brazilian recipients must be in BRL. WEpayments handles FX conversion before sending. **7. Is a contract required for every payment?**\ No. The contract is required only for the first payment with each supplier and can be reused for future payments. **8. What is the minimum payment amount?**\ PIX: R\$0.01. TED: no minimum (but fees may apply). **9. Can I pay an individual (CPF) who provided services to my company?**\ Yes, provided the Nota Fiscal was issued under the individual's CPF. The payment must be directed to that same individual. **10. What if the service was provided by a PJ, but the partner asks to receive the payment on their CPF?**\ Not permitted. Payment must be made to the company that issued the Nota Fiscal (CNPJ). Directing the payment to the partner's CPF creates tax, employment, and compliance risks.