Brazil Cracks Down on Cigarette Sector for $5 Billion Tax Debt

Brazil has reached out to 13 cigarette companies suspected of owing a combined 25 billion reals ($5 billion) in unpaid taxes, the government said.

The Attorney General’s Office for the National Treasury and the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service informed the companies Tuesday that they had 30 days to settle their debts or contest the notifications, according to a news release. The agencies said the cigarette sector was the first to receive such notifications and that they would target the fuel sector in May.

“The cigarette sector is highly contaminated by habitual tax evaders,” said Robinson Barreirinhas, secretary of ...