The Federal Revenue Service published Normative Instruction RFB No. 2,229, of October 15, 2024, which changes the format of the National Registry of Legal Entities (CNPJ). In response to the growing demand for new CNPJ numbers, the format will be modified to include letters and numbers.
The transition to the alphanumeric format will be progressive and is scheduled for July 2026.
The new CNPJ identification number will have 14 positions. The first eight will identify the root of the new number, composed of letters and numbers. The following four will represent the order of the establishment, also alphanumeric. The last two positions, which correspond to the verification digits, will continue to be numeric.
It is important to note that this change will not affect existing CNPJs. Current numbers will remain valid, and verification digits will not be changed either.
Although the routine for calculating the check digit (DV) has been adjusted, the formula for calculating it using modulo 11 will continue to be used. The main difference will be the replacement of the numeric and alphanumeric values by the decimal value corresponding to the code in the ASCII table and the value 48 subtracted from it. Thus, the values will be, for example, A=17, B=18, C=19, and so on.
The implementation of the alphanumeric CNPJ aims to guarantee the continuity of public policies and ensure the availability of identification numbers, without causing significant technical impacts on Brazilian society.
