Author: Assessoria Sefaz

Source: First Edition - - BUSINESS - 01/04/2010

Reduction of printing and storage costs, greater agility, decrease in the number of errors, increased reliability and environmental preservation. These are just some of the benefits of the Electronic Invoice (NF-e), a project that has been replacing the current system for issuing paper fiscal documents.
Implemented by the State Secretariat of Finance (Sefaz) in 2007, the NF-e is nothing more than a document of only digital existence, issued and stored electronically, in order to document an operation of circulation of goods or provision of services. Its legal validity is guaranteed by the sender's digital signature.

Intended to replace models 1 and 1-A, it does not intend to extend to other existing types, such as, for example, the Invoice to Consumer (model 2) or the Tax Coupon. The objective is to increase the capacity of the Tax Authorities to combat tax evasion, since the system allows online, permanent and real-time surveillance.

The benefits also reach taxpayers. With the end of the paperwork, it is possible to reduce the costs of issuing physical notes by up to 80%, in addition to providing improvements in logistics. Another gain is the waiver of the Authorization to Print Tax Documents (AIDF), which simplifies accessory obligations.

The project is developed in partnership with the Federal Revenue Service and its implementation began to be studied in Alagoas in 2005. The adhesion of the companies is made from the branches of activity and more than 3.400 taxpayers are already included in the system, encompassing sectors that go from cigarillos manufacturers to car retailers.

So far, Alagoas has reached almost eight million electronic invoices issued. The average has been 650 thousand per month. It is worth remembering that the NF-e issuing program is available on the Fazenda website, at www.sefaz.al.gov.br/nfe. “The taxpayer can download the system for free on the internet. The program is made by Sefaz of São Paulo and made available to us ”, explains the technical leader of NF-e, Aroldo Rocha Ferreira.

He also adds that, in the software, the merchant finds all the necessary functionalities to participate in the project, such as consulting and sending notes. "Our program is an excellent option for small and micro entrepreneurs and presents everything they need". Anyone who wants to, however, can also develop their own system.