Brazil reaches 64 million CNPJs, exhausts system and creates format with letters for 2026

Brazil surpassed the mark of 64 million registered CNPJs, a number 7.72% higher than that verified in the same period of the previous year, points out the second edition of the study “CNPJs do Brasil”, by BigDataCorp. Looking only at active companies, the growth was even higher: 16.1%, leaving 21.8 million establishments to 25.3 million.

This rapid advance, however, brought a new reality: the imminent exhaustion of the current model of CNPJ, composed only of numbers. As a direct response to this expansion, the IRS announced that, from July 2026, the National Register of Legal Entities (CNPJ) will have a new format, which will include letters and numbers. The measure aims to expand the number of possible combinations and ensure the continuity of registration of new companies in the country.

“The implementation of the alphanumeric CNPJ aims to ensure the continuity of public policies and ensure the availability of identification numbers, without causing significant technical impacts to Brazilian society”, the agency said in a statement.

MEIs and “Pejotization” drive high

The expansion that motivates the change is especially visible in the segment of micro and small companies. Individual microenterprises (MEIs) grew 20,90% in the last 12 months and are already 78,74% of CNPJs active in the country. Small family businesses, with two or more members of the same family, are the second largest category, representing 9,75% of the total. Altogether, 88,49% of Brazilian organizations are micro or small family businesses.

Thoran Rodrigues, CEO of BigDataCorp, points out that growth is the result of two major trends. “First, we have the strong phenomenon of (playing‘. Many people who were previously employed with a formal contract began to act as service providers, structuring their activities as’ companies, he explains.

This transformation is observed in the growth of companies that declare “sales promotion” or “administrative support” as their core activities.Together, they represented 6,76% of CNPJs opened throughout 2024.

“A formalization of small businesses, especially those linked to the so-called 5-dig economy‘, is the second major’ trend, adds Rodrigues. Activities in the passenger and cargo transportation sector, as well as services such as hairdressers and manicures, also had a significant participation in business openings.

The Future of CNPJ: What Changes with the Alphanumeric Format?

The transition to the new model is scheduled for July 2026 and will be implemented progressively. Below, understand the main points of the change:

What is CNPJ like today and how will it look like?

• Currently: The structure has 14 numbers (eight for company identification, four for parent or branch, and two digit verifiers).
  
• New Format: It will keep the 14 characters, but will be alphanumeric. The first eight digits (identification) and the following four (matrix/branch) may combine letters and numbers. The two check digits at the end will remain exclusively numeric.

Who will be affected by the change?

The change will only apply to new registrations and for the inclusion of branches from July 2026. For those who are already registered with the CNPJ, nothing changes: the number will remain the same and no cadastral changes will be required.

How should companies adapt?

The main adaptation will be technological. Companies will need to update their internal software and routines (such as invoice issuance systems) to process the new CNPJ format. The systems should be able to validate both the old numerical records and the new alphanumeric ones. This adaptation may generate costs for entrepreneurs, but it will be essential to avoid failures in the issuance of tax documents and in communication with customers and suppliers.

Despite the growth, business mortality increases

Despite the opening boom, the BigDataCorp study also revealed an increase in business mortality.Proportionally, more companies closed their activities in 2024 than in any previous year, except for 2021, the peak of the pandemic.

Much of this mortality is related to a market readjustment. We observed, for example, a disproportionate closure of companies in the food preparation for delivery sector, which had grown exponentially between 2020 and 2022. Throughout 2024, 1.66% of all closed businesses operated in this area.

“This acceleration in closures, when combined with the increase in openings, points to greater volatility in the Brazilian market, with less long-lived and more churn”, concludes the executive.