Pix Automático: how recurring billing works for businesses, costs and differences from direct debit and boleto
Starting June 16, the customer authorizes once and the company bills within the agreed limits. The payer pays no fee; the receiver depends on what the bank or provider charges.
Historical reference: June 17, 2025. Published on this site on November 2, 2026. Dates in the text identify the period covered.
In this article
Key points
- Pix Automático began on 06/16/2025: the payer authorizes once and the company sends subsequent charges within the agreed limit.
- There is no fee for the payer. The receiver may be charged by the bank or provider, and the amount varies by institution.
- Unlike direct debit, it can debit on any day of the week and needs no agreement with each bank. Unlike the boleto, the charge is debited without the customer having to act.
- An improper charge can be contested through the MED, and the customer can cancel the authorization at any time in the bank's app.
São Paulo, June 17, 2025 — Since Monday the 16th, Pix Automático has been available. The feature, created by the Central Bank of Brazil (BCB), lets a company charge recurring amounts to a customer without the customer having to initiate a Pix, Brazil's instant payment system, at each due date. School tuition, gyms, subscriptions, condominiums and utility bills are among the uses cited by the Central Bank and by banks. For the company, the promise is less late payment and less manual reconciliation.
How Pix Automático works
- One-time authorization. The customer confirms the recurrence in the bank's app, by notification, through the company's website (which takes them to the app), by QR Code or by Pix Copia e Cola (copy-and-paste code). Authorizing via Open Finance is also possible.
- Limits set by the payer. They can set a maximum amount per charge and choose whether to allow the use of a credit line, such as an overdraft, and whether to receive alerts.
- Advance billing. The company sends the instruction to the payer's bank ahead of time, by default between 2 and 10 days before the due date. The bank schedules the payment and notifies the customer.
- Debit on the date. On the agreed date, the amount leaves the account. The receiver can keep weekends and holidays or adjust the charge to the next business day.
- Retry. If there are insufficient funds, the payer's bank tries again between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on the same day. Further attempts in the following seven days only happen if the authorization provides for them.
- start of Pix Automático
- 06/16/2025
- standard advance notice for sending the charge, according to the Central Bank
- 2 to 10 days
- fee for the payer: charging it is prohibited by the Central Bank
- R$ 0
Who it is for
Only a legal entity with an active CNPJ (Brazilian company tax ID) can receive through Pix Automático. The payer can be an individual or a company. Under Central Bank rules, every Pix institution that offers an account must allow its customers to pay by Pix Automático; on the receiving side, offering it is optional. So anyone planning to bill this way should confirm whether their bank or payment provider already has the service.
How much it costs
The Central Bank prohibits a fee for the payer. The receiver may be charged by the institution or the payment provider, and the amount is not set by the rule: according to the Central Bank, the relationship between the receiver and its bank is a matter of free agreement. Each company should check its bank's fee schedule and negotiate. Since traditional Pix is usually cheaper for the receiver than the boleto and cards, the cost-per-charge comparison goes into the calculation of whether to migrate your customer base.
Pix Automático, direct debit and boleto
| Criterion | Pix Automático | Direct debit | Boleto |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authorization | Once, in the bank's app, by QR Code or website | Agreement with each of the payer's banks | None: the customer pays each cycle |
| Who initiates the payment | The company, within the authorized limit | The company | The customer |
| Works on non-business days | Yes, if the receiver does not adjust the date to the next business day | Generally only on business days | Due date on a business day |
| Integration for the company | One, with the bank or provider | Agreement with each bank | Issuance and settlement per bank |
| Cancellation | Through the bank's app, at any time | Through the bank or the company | Just don't pay |
| Risk of forgetting | Low | Low | High |
Security and improper charges
Febraban says Pix Automático has the same security mechanisms as regular Pix, and the debit only happens after the payer expressly authorizes it. In case of an improper charge, it is possible to request a refund through the Special Return Mechanism (MED). If the error was the bank's in managing the authorization, the refund is mandatory.
Scammers can send QR Codes or links that lead to a recurring authorization the customer did not intend to give. Read the receiver's name, the maximum amount and the frequency in the app before confirming, and review the list of active authorizations from time to time. The pattern resembles the scams that used the fake Pix tax.
What your company should do now
- Ask your bank or provider whether Pix Automático is already available for receivers and how much it costs per charge.
- Map which customers have a fixed recurrence and which have a variable amount: the maximum limit needs to cover the highest possible amount.
- Update your communication with customers, so that the authorization in the app does not look like a scam.
- Plan cash flow with the new predictability, especially if part of your expenses is paid in dollars and sensitive to costs such as IOF, the subject of the IOF increase on foreign exchange.
Frequently asked questions
What is Pix Automático?
It is a Pix feature, in effect since June 16, 2025, in which the customer authorizes once and the company then charges recurring amounts on the agreed dates, within the limit the customer sets. It is used for tuition, subscriptions and utility bills.
Does Pix Automático have a cost?
For the payer, no: the Central Bank prohibits charging a fee. The company that receives may be charged by the bank or payment provider, and the amount varies by institution.
What is the difference between Pix Automático and direct debit?
Direct debit requires an agreement between the company and each bank and, in general, only processes on business days. Pix Automático uses the Pix infrastructure, allows billing on any day of the week and needs no agreement with each bank.
How do I cancel a Pix Automático authorization?
Through the bank's app, in an area dedicated to authorizations, at any time. Cancellation stops future debits, but does not erase the debt to the company for services already provided.
Can I request a refund for an improper charge?
Yes, through the Special Return Mechanism (MED), the same as with regular Pix. If the error was the bank's in managing the authorization, the refund is mandatory.
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Sources
- Pix Automático começa a valer em 16 de junho. Entenda como funciona · Agência Gov, Jun 4, 2025
- Pix Automático: veja as respostas para as dúvidas dos consumidores · Agência O Globo, via InfoMoney, Jun 4, 2025
- FAQ Pix Automático para participantes · Banco Central do Brasil, Jun 16, 2025
- Guia de implementação do Pix Automático · Banco Central do Brasil, Jun 16, 2025
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