Social Security benefits x US bank account x retirement in Brazil?

03/17/26 @Ivair Gontijo.  I've always had my Social Security benefits deposited in my US account, with almost zero problems on either the Brazil or the US side.  I don't need the whole thing for living expenses, so I transfer most of it to my Brazilian account every month.  I'd rather build up USD balances in the US than BRL balances in Brazil.  In addition to the gradual, continuous devaluation of the BRL, investing in Brazilian securities is possible for US citizens but it's a minefield because of regulations on the US side; Brazilian real estate is more straightforward and we have folks here on the site who know how to do it right, but I've never been much of a real estate investor.

The tax question is somewhat different.  If you'll be in Brazil for fewer than 183 days a year, you're not subject to Brazilian taxes; if you'll be in Brazil longer, you are.  Keeping a low profile may well keep you from being detected -- middle class expats don't seem to be a high investigative priority -- but eventually the inconveniences of living on credit cards and ATM withdrawals of R$1500 at a time  may start to get to you.  They certainly would to me, and pretty quickly.  While you're still technically a visitor, it could be worth your while to talk over your situation with a Brazilian accountant and get an idea of how big your actual tax exposure would be.  You may either be pleasantly surprised, or confirmed in following the cards and cash plan.

Thank you @abthree for the thoughtful and detailed reply above! Yes, I will be changing my tax domicile to Brazil, starting in May this year. Therefore, in early 2027 I will have to file tax returns both in the US and in Brazil.  I will be spending most of the time in Brazil from that point on and won't have any family left in the US.

Your suggestion of talking to a Brazilian accountant is great! I started working with one recently and she will guide me through the process to declare all assets to receita federal. This will mean having to pay taxes in Brazil, if not already covered by what was paid in the US. She knows about US tax credits that can be used to offset the amount of taxes owed in Brazil. Paying what is owed is fair and I am OK with that.

I bought an apartment in Brazil and sending the money to pay for it was not straightforward. Sums above $3k can sometimes get stuck in limbo for several days. Hopefully, after the move next month, things will settle down and it will be much easier to manage.

03/18/26 @Ivair Gontijo.  How exciting!  Congratulations on your new apartment -- all the best with it.

With respect to transferring large sums, or even sums that aren't so large but are outside your usual pattern, I've found that nothing beats building face to face business relationships with the back office people at your bank.  In this high-touch society, it can really make a difference. 

When we bought our apartment, I stopped by the bank the week before to tell them that a big transfer was coming and to ask whether any authorities needed to be notified.  The manager said, "Oh, we'll take care of that."  When the transfer came through, she released it and transferred it to the seller's account at her desk, with us and the seller looking on, and we went from there to the cartório to complete the paperwork.  My husband and I are in the process of moving across the country, and I plan to do it the same way.

Preparing for the move, we're trying to get our Brazilian taxes done early (US taxes are already done and sent) and yes, it's going to be an adventure this year, with all the changes going into effect.  Good luck to all of us.

@abthree: I like your description of Brazil as a high-touch society! :-) 

My experience with sending money to my account at Banco do Brasil has been hit and miss. Only once it worked without my intervention and whatsapp contact with the exchange department (cambio) in São Paulo.  Then, once I had the money in the checking account in Minas, they couldn't figure out a way of increasing my pix limits to the required value, so that I could pay for the apartment by pix. Had to do it with a cashier's check. In the end it worked out, but it was pretty stressful. My branch is in a small town two hours from Belo Horizonte, so it was not convenient to go there with the seller.

Sometimes I feel that being Brazilian myself actually makes certain dealings with bureaucracy more difficult, as the expectations are different. 

On the other hand, I find it exceptional that I can deal with Banco do Brasil through whatsapp and solve a lot of problems through text and voice messages. Pix is also a huge game changer. I have been paying contractors doing our remodeling there and everything works perfectly. 

If your move and travels take you to BH after this coming June, please get in touch as we could get together for a chat.

All the best to you and your husband and good luck to us all!

03/19/26 If your move and travels take you to BH after this coming June, please get in touch as we could get together for a chat.
All the best to you and your husband and good luck to us all! - @Ivair Gontijo

That's a definite, Ivair -- we're moving to Belô.  My husband is a federal civil servant, and is transferring from his agency's state headquarters in Amazonas to a similar post at its much larger state headquarters in Minas.  it's a good career move for him and we both like BH, so we're looking forward to it.  Any move in or out of Amazônia is a challenge because of the distance and lack of roads, but it's one more learning experience.  I'll send you more information about our plans in a DM.

You've probably figured out already that you can change your limits at "Meus Limites" about 2/3 of the way down the menu in the Banco do Brasil app.  The process is far from intuitive and may require confirmation at an ATM (it's been a while, so I'm a little rusty) but it works and it's pretty flexible.

Yes, Pix is great, and getting better all the time.  We  use it for most of our street purchases, the collection at church (!) and to recharge Uber, which we use a lot since it makes more economic sense for us than owning a car.  Larger purchases we still do by debit card -- unless there's an additional discount for Pix -- but that's more by habit and the stronger sense of security than anything else.  Boletos for large recurring expenses, like our condominium assessment (and in BH, I imagine our rent until we buy something there), the electric bill, and our health plan we schedule every month using the "Pagar" functionality of the BB app -- fire and forget.

Cashless Brazil is a wonderful place to live; I'm always surprised that some people, expats AND Brazilians, who ae able to live there choose not to.