MEI Thrives: 'We envisioned a program that truly impacts people's lives,' says the minister.

Paulo Pereira, Minister of Entrepreneurship, Microenterprise, and Small Business (MEMP),highlighted on Thursday (10/29) during the programGood Morning, MinisterHe highlighted the measures of the Prospera MEI program to reduce debt, facilitate access to resources, and stimulate the growth of small businesses. According to him, the program emerged from a directive by President Lula to develop an initiative capable of effectively improving people's lives.

"A program that truly makes a difference. That's when we thought of Prospera MEI," Pereira stated.

He explained that the proposal aims to assist workers like popcorn sellers, tapioca makers, and manicurists, who face difficulties in accessing credit and investing in their activities.

Debt Forgiveness

According to the minister, debt is one of the main challenges faced by individual microentrepreneurs (MEIs). Some have accumulated debts since the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and cannot repay them due to interest charges. "MEIs have over R$ 18 billion in debt. The MEI monthly collection is R$ 80. However, people stopped paying for three or four months, it became R$ 300, R$ 400, interest and fines started accruing, and it turned into a R$ 2,000 or R$ 3,000 debt." But the average monthly revenue of MEIs is R$ 3,500.

In this context, Law Complementary No. 238, which provides for the total remission of federal tax debts for MEIs enrolled or not in the Union's Active Debt until October 13, 2026, was sanctioned by President Lula on October 21. The measure comes into effect on January 1, 2027, and could benefit over 3.6 million entrepreneurs, forgiving over R$ 18.7 billion in debts.

To maintain the benefit and not lose rights and formality, it is necessary to pay the monthly guides of the Document of Simple National Collection (DAS) on time during the six months following the law's entry into force.

The specific line for Desenrola 3.0 for the MEI (Microentrepreneur Individual) was designed to assist indebted individuals with credit cards. In this case, the government will purchase that credit from the bank and the small entrepreneur will not have to pay. According to Minister Paulo Pereira, the tender has been issued calling on banks to present these credits.

This makes it easier for a neighborhood merchant or manicurist to obtain a loan from financial institutions and invest in their business.

Ceiling Increase

Another measure highlighted by the minister is the gradual expansion of the annual revenue limit for the MEI, from the current R$ 81,000 to R$ 110,000 in 2027, and R$ 140,000 in 2028. This also allows for the hiring of up to two employees instead of one. "The MEI's ceiling had been frozen for almost 10 years," said the minister. The billing law was not updated since 2018. With the change, the microentrepreneur can increase their revenue without needing to leave the simplified regime early, maintaining the monthly DAS payment.

PixMEI

"Our idea is to reduce bureaucracy and increase productive capacity," stressed Paulo Pereira. And in the minister's view, the PixMEI, which provides non-reimbursable support of up to R$ 5,000, is the most innovative measure of the Prospera MEI. The initiative will have a limit of up to 1 million beneficiaries between 2027 and 2030.

This is the first time we've done this in Brazil. The country is used to providing subsidies for agriculture, industry, and exports, but no one had ever provided a subsidy for small entrepreneurs. The cost is low, and you reach millions and millions of people with a measure like this."

The minister also emphasized that the Pix MEI "is for investing in your business. For example, a bicycle delivery person can use that money to buy an electric bicycle, or a hairstylist can buy a new chair for their salon. It's a resource to invest in the MEI's billing capacity."

Paulo Pereira reminded of the difficulty this segment faces in obtaining loans from banks. Thus, the importance of such an innovative action in the country's history.