Measure was adopted after the suspension of tax registrations and affects the sale of products by group companies
The (Rio de Janeiro Finance Department) determined on Thursday (June 4, 2026) the blocking of IE (State Registration) of companies linked to the former Manguinhos Refinery. The measure was adopted after the identification of pending issues and tax irregularities by the State Revenue Service. With registration blocked, companies are prevented from issuing invoices for the purchase and sale of products.
The IE impediment was automatically applied after the suspension of CNPJs by the Federal Revenue Service. The measure also affected the refinery located in Manguinhos, in the north of Rio de Janeiro. Without active registration, companies are unable to issue tax documents necessary for their business operations.
According to Sefaz-RJ, the action is part of the work to combat tax evasion in the fuel sector. The body reported that the measure is part of the tax integrity policy adopted by the state government.
The Refit Group became the target of federal and state investigations from August 2025. During that period, the operations Carbono Oculto, Cadeia de Carbono and Poço de Lobato were launched to investigate possible irregularities in the sector. On May 15, 2026, the Federal Police carried out a new operation involving group companies.
After the police action, Sefaz-RJ opened inspections of all the conglomerate’s companies. The Federal Police suspect that the unit operated mainly by importing fuel to supply the national market, in addition to investigating possible irregularities in these operations.
The Federal Revenue and State Revenue of Rio de Janeiro are following the investigations. The inspection also includes the analysis of tax incentives granted to the Refit Group and possible irregularities related to the use of these benefits.
Here is the full note from Refit sent to Poder360:
“Refit was surprised by the decision of the government of Rio de Janeiro to suspend the company’s state registration, as the aforementioned tax debts have been discussed in the competent bodies, within due legal process, as is the case with several companies, including Petrobras. In recent years, Refit has joined debt refinancing programs at both the federal and state levels. Only to the government of Rio, the company made significant payments, which totaled approximately R$1 billion in the last year alone.
“The agreements were being fulfilled regularly until the arbitrary closure of the company by the ANP, which prevented the continuation of its operations. This means that 2,500 workers had their jobs affected and 500 children and teenagers from needy communities, who benefited from the company’s social project with tutoring, music classes, sports and basic food baskets, were harmed.
“It is regrettable that Refit is being prevented from exercising its right of defense. After all, until now the authorities have not allowed a judicial examination to be carried out on the seized cargo – which would prove that the product is crude petroleum oil and that, therefore, there is no tax fraud in imports, as has already been demonstrated by two professional reports.
“The company also reinforces that the current management assumed the operation with historical liabilities accumulated over previous administrations and remains committed to the search for solutions that guarantee the continuity of activities, the preservation of jobs and the maintenance of its relevance to the Brazilian economy.”
