About IFA Brazil

IFA Brazil is the official Brazilian branch of the International Fiscal Association and operates institutionally through the Associação Brasileira de Direito Financeiro (ABDF), headquartered in Rio de Janeiro.

Founded in February 1949 by a distinguished group of Brazilian tax scholars led by Gilberto de Ulhôa Canto, alongside Erymá Carneiro, Tito Rezende and Rubens Gomes de Sousa, the ABDF was established with the purpose of promoting the study and development of tax law in Brazil.

Since its inception, the ABDF has served as a national forum for high-level debate on taxation, fostering dialogue among academics, practitioners, judges and policymakers. Through conferences, seminars, lectures and institutional initiatives, it contributes to the advancement of technical discussion in the field of domestic and international taxation.

As IFA Brazil, the ABDF represents the country within the global IFA network and actively participates in international dialogue on comparative and cross-border taxation. It also represents the Instituto Latino-Americano de Derecho Tributario (ILADT) in Brazil, reinforcing its longstanding commitment to regional and global cooperation.

Brazil has maintained a prominent presence within the international IFA community. The ABDF organized the IFA Annual Congress in Rio de Janeiro in 1989 and again in 2017, as well as hosting the IFA Latin America Regional Conference in Rio de Janeiro in 2024. These occasions reflect Brazil’s institutional relevance and its continued engagement in global tax discussions.

Throughout its history, the ABDF has organized and supported numerous national and international conferences, including major Latin American and international tax events held in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and other Brazilian cities. Its activities have consistently contributed to strengthening Brazil’s role in the international tax community.

The institution has been led by distinguished scholars and practitioners over the decades. Following its first Executive Director, Tito Rezende, and later Gilberto de Ulhôa Canto, successive presidents have included Agostinho Tavolaro, Condorcet Rezende, Ricardo Lobo Torres, Sacha Calmon Navarro Coelho, Gustavo Brigagão, Heleno Taveira Torres and, since 2024, Betina Trieger Grupenmacher — the first woman elected to the presidency of the institution.

Today, IFA Brazil continues to serve as a platform for institutional dialogue and international engagement, strengthening Brazil’s participation within the global tax community.