PIX Limits & Rules: Night Limits, MEI Fees & Fraud Dispute MED
Complete PIX regulations guide: Bacen night transfer limits (20h-6h), MEI and PJ fee rules, scam dispute Mecanismo Especial de Devolução (MED).
What are the official rules, night limits, and fees for PIX transfers in Brazil?
When Can PIX Be Charged? Rules for MEI and Corporate Accounts
A persistent source of confusion is whether PIX transfers can be taxed or charged fees. Under Banco Central rules, PIX is completely free of charge for Pessoas Físicas (individuals), Microempreendedores Individuais (MEI), and Empresários Individuais (EI) for ordinary peer-to-peer transfers, invoice payments, and purchases.
However, financial institutions are legally permitted to levy commercial transaction fees on regular Legal Entities (Pessoas Jurídicas - PJ) and, in narrow circumstances, on MEIs. Specifically, fees may apply if the MEI receives funds from commercial transactions initiated via QR Code Dinâmico, uses checkout payment gateways, or receives over 30 transfers in a calendar month from different individuals.
Fee tariffs are not fixed by the government but negotiated between the enterprise and its servicing bank, typically ranging between 0.99% and 1.45% of transaction value, frequently subject to statutory caps (e.g., minimum R$ 0.50, maximum R$ 10.00 per transaction).
Nighttime Limits, Registration Delays, and the MED Scam Recovery Process
To combat expressive kidnappings (sequestro-relâmpago) and digital extortion, the Central Bank introduced structural security limits. The standard default nocturnal limit restricts transfers to R$ 1,000 between 20:00 and 06:00. Users can request adjustments in their banking app to modify the nighttime window (starting at 22:00) or alter values.
Crucially, any request to increase transaction limits requires a mandatory cooling-off period of between 24 and 48 hours before taking effect. This prevents criminals from coercing victims into instantly raising limits under duress. Conversely, requests to decrease limits must be processed immediately.
In the event of a scam, social engineering theft, or unauthorized account takeover, victims have access to the Mecanismo Especial de Devolução (MED). Established by Resolution BCB 142/2021, MED allows the victim's bank to communicate directly with the recipient's bank to immediately freeze the recipient's balance while an administrative fraud inquiry is conducted within 7 business days.
Regulatory Overview: PIX Rules Across Account Categories
| Account Type | Sending Transfers | Receiving P2P Transfers | Receiving Commercial QR Code | Fee Permitted? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pessoa Física (Individual) | 100% Free | 100% Free | 100% Free (unless commercial) | NO (Statutory Guarantee) |
| MEI (Microempreendedor) | 100% Free | 100% Free | May be charged if commercial | Only in Commercial Operations |
| Pessoa Jurídica (LTDA / S.A.) | Bank Discretion | Bank Discretion | Bank Discretion (0.99% - 1.45%) | YES (Market Discretion) |
| Governo / Órgãos Públicos | 100% Free | 100% Free | 100% Free | NO |
How to Trigger the MED Protocol After a PIX Scam
Register Police Report (Boletim de Ocorrência)
File an immediate digital police report detailing the fraudulent transaction, recipient bank details, and transaction ID.
Contact Your Bank Customer Service (SAC)
Contact your issuing bank within minutes of the transaction and explicitly state: 'Desejo abrir uma contestação por fraude via MED (Mecanismo Especial de Devolução)'.
Provide Evidentiary Documentation
Submit screenshots of the scam conversation, fake invoice, payment receipt, and Boletim de Ocorrência to the bank's fraud desk.
Bank Inter-Communication & Asset Freezing
The receiving bank has up to 7 business days to analyze the claim and, upon verification of fraud, returns the available funds directly to your account.
Fundamentação Legal e Fontes Oficiais
📺 Tutoriais e Análises em Vídeo Verificados
4 Vídeos SelecionadosAnálises de Especialistas e Práticos de Mercado
"PIX is an infrastructural public good. Speculation that individuals or MEIs will be taxed on standard transfers is factually unfounded. Our regulatory priority is enhancing the MED fraud protocol to stop cybercrime."
"Speed is everything in MED. If you suffer a PIX scam, reporting it within 30 minutes gives the destination bank the highest probability of freezing the criminal's balance before it gets funneled through mule accounts."
Perguntas Frequentes (FAQ)
Is it true that the Brazilian government will tax PIX transfers of R$ 5,000 for MEI?▼
No. This is a recurring viral misinformation rumor. The Banco Central does not charge any tax on PIX transfers for individuals or MEIs regardless of value. Bank fees only apply to corporate accounts under negotiated contracts.
Why does it take up to 48 hours to increase my PIX limit?▼
The mandatory 24-48 hour delay is a statutory security measure established by the Banco Central to protect account holders against flash kidnappings and violent extortion.
Can I get my money back if I send a PIX to the wrong person by mistake?▼
The MED protocol only applies to confirmed criminal fraud or operational system errors. If you send money to the wrong key by mistake, MED cannot freeze the funds; you must contact the recipient directly. Under Article 169 of the Brazilian Penal Code, refusing to return money received by mistake constitutes the crime of 'apropriação indébita'.
