Federal Revenue Service announces a new CNPJ with letters and numbers for 2026

The new CNPJ format will not affect the existing ones

The Federal Revenue Service issued Regulatory Instruction RFB No. 2,229/2024, dated October 15, which introduces a change in the format of the National Register of Corporate Taxpayers (CNPJ). In order to meet the growing demand for new numbers, the format will become alphanumeric, combining letters and numbers.

Transition and new CNPJ format

The change to this new format will be implemented gradually, with the transition expected to begin in July 2026.

The new CNPJ format will maintain 14 positions, with the first eight designated for the identification of the root, which will consist of letters and numbers. The next four positions will indicate the establishment's order, also in alphanumeric format. The last two positions, corresponding to the check digits, will remain numeric.

How will the existing CNPJs be affected

It is important to emphasize that the current CNPJs will not be affected by this change, remaining valid, including the check digits.

Public systems will be updated to support both the current numeric format and the new alphanumeric one. Similarly, companies must adapt their systems to recognize legal entities in both formats, ensuring smooth invoicing and preventing communication issues with suppliers and clients.

Despite the changes, the check digit calculation formula, which uses the modulus 11 method, will remain unchanged. The calculation process will be adjusted so that alphanumeric values are converted to their corresponding decimal values in the ASCII table, minus 48. For example, the letter A will become 17, B will be 18, C will be 19, and so on.

The adoption of the alphanumeric CNPJ is designed to maintain the continuity of public policies and ensure the availability of identification numbers, while minimizing any significant technical impact on society.

Specialized support

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