Frequently asked questions
Hiring Brazilian contractors from the US — how it works, what it costs, and how we keep it compliant.
- Is HireInBrazil an Employer of Record (EOR)?
- No. HireInBrazil is a facilitator and compliance layer, not an EOR and not an employer. We provide the Brazil-valid contract, tax paperwork, and classification monitoring, while your contractor stays an independent contractor and is paid by you directly.
- How does my Brazilian contractor get paid?
- Your contractor invoices you and is paid directly into their own account (Wise, PIX, or bank). Their compensation never passes through HireInBrazil, so they receive 100%. We only bill you a separate per-contractor subscription for the compliance software.
- How much does HireInBrazil cost?
- Two plans, per active contractor per month: Essentials at $49 and Compliance+ at $99, with roughly 20% off on annual prepay. You're billed only in months a contractor is engaged. There's no cut of your contractor's pay and no setup fee.
- What is a PJ or CNPJ contractor in Brazil?
- A PJ (pessoa jurídica) contractor is a Brazilian professional who works through their own registered company, identified by a CNPJ tax number. Engaging a PJ contractor — rather than an individual — is the standard, lower-risk structure for US companies hiring in Brazil.
- What is vínculo, and how do I avoid misclassification?
- Vínculo empregatício is a disguised employment relationship a Brazilian court can find behind a contractor label, triggering back CLT benefits. You reduce the risk with a proper contract, arm's-length service reports, and no subordination — which HireInBrazil documents and continuously monitors.
- Do I need a W-8BEN for a Brazilian contractor?
- Yes. A valid W-8BEN (or W-8BEN-E for a company) establishes the contractor's foreign status so you aren't forced into backup withholding. HireInBrazil collects it, tracks its 3-year expiry, and determines the correct US tax treatment.
- What is an NFS-e?
- The NFS-e is Brazil's electronic service invoice. When your contractor issues one for their services, it evidences a clean business-to-business service purchase — supporting the arm's-length relationship. HireInBrazil helps your contractor issue it.
- Who owns the intellectual property my contractor creates?
- You do — when the contract assigns it correctly under Brazilian law. US-style IP clauses often fail in Brazil. HireInBrazil's Brazil-valid ICA includes a patrimonial-rights assignment so the work product transfers to your company.
- Can you guarantee my contractor won't be reclassified?
- No one honestly can. HireInBrazil gives you decision support — a classification-risk assessment against the Brazilian labor test — plus continuous monitoring and an audit-ready paper trail, so you can act on risk early and defend the engagement if questioned.
- How fast can I onboard a contractor?
- Most engagements move from assessment to a signed, compliant contract within a few days, gated mainly by how quickly your contractor provides their CNPJ and signs. Everything — contract, W-8BEN, documents — is completed in-app.
- Is my data protected under LGPD?
- Yes. HireInBrazil processes personal data in line with Brazil's LGPD, with role-based access, tenant isolation, an audit log, and a data-subject request workflow including right-to-be-forgotten.
- How is HireInBrazil different from Deel or RemotePeople?
- HireInBrazil is a Brazil specialist with transparent per-contractor pricing and a facilitator model — no EOR overhead or employer liability, and no cut of your contractor's pay. Generalist platforms cover 150 countries shallowly and often add Brazil surcharges.