Automatic Pix: The Recurring
Payments Revolution

Frequently Asked Questions About Automatic Pix

Merchant (Receiver) FAQs

What is Automatic Pix?

Automatic Pix is a new Pix feature that enables automatic payment of recurring charges. It works similarly to direct debit but uses the Pix infrastructure, which offers instant transactions and is available 24/7.

What are the main advantages of Automatic Pix for businesses?

Automatic Pix was designed to boost the subscription and recurring payments market. The main advantages for businesses are:

• Democratization of access to the recurring payment model: By eliminating the need for complex agreements with banks or acquiring services, it allows businesses of all sizes to offer recurring payments.
• Cost reduction: A Pix transaction can be, on average, up to 14 times more cost-effective than credit card processing.
• Higher payment success rate: By debiting directly from the account, it reduces payment failures caused by insufficient credit limits or expired card details. In addition, the system allows up to three retry attempts within seven days.
• Plan flexibility: It allows the creation of subscription plans with variable amounts or billing cycles, without requiring any new payment action from the customer.
• Security and Control: It inherits Pix’s high security standards. The requirement for prior authenticated customer consent for each recurrence ensures protection from the very beginning

How does Automatic Pix differ from traditional direct debit and recurring credit card billing?

Automatic Pix represents an evolution over traditional recurring payment models. The main differences are:

• Reach and accessibility: Unlike credit card-based recurring payments, Automatic Pix doesn’t require specific agreements between banks and businesses, making access more democratic for companies of all sizes. For users, it offers the possibility of accessing the recurring payments market without needing a credit card. It’s worth noting that 60 million Brazilians don’t have a credit card, while Pix has included over 70 million people in the financial system since its launch in 2020.
• Cost and efficiency: The solution eliminates intermediaries such as acquirers and card networks, which are involved in credit card-based recurring payments and increase operational costs for merchants. A Pix transaction can be up to 14 times more cost-effective
• Higher payment success rate: Automatic Pix tends to achieve better collection success by avoiding common credit card issues such as insufficient limits or expired card details. It also allows for up to three retry attempts within seven days.
• Flexibility of models: The system supports multiple billing models, such as subscriptions with fixed amounts, variable amounts, variable billing cycles, or even no defined frequency—something not offered in a standardized way by traditional direct debit.
• Greater control for the user: Recurring payments made with Pix are all managed within the user’s banking app, making it easier to track and cancel them.

Will there be retry attempts if the amount isn’t debited?

Yes. In cases of operational failure, insufficient funds, or insufficient transaction limits, the system will make up to three additional payment attempts within a period of seven calendar days. The amount of each retry will always be the same as the initial attempt. When giving consent, the consumer can also authorize the use of credit, such as overdraft, in case of insufficient balance.

Can Individual Microentrepreneurs (MEIs) receive payments through Automatic Pix?

Yes, MEIs (Individual Microentrepreneur status in Brazil) are fully eligible to receive payments via Automatic Pix, as long as they use a Pix key linked to their CNPJ (an identification number issued to Brazilian companies) to ensure compliance with tax and business regulations.

Does the cost of receiving via Pix vary depending on the merchant’s size?

Yes, there is a price difference based on the transaction volume and any additional services linked to Pix. However, even for merchants with low transaction volumes, Automatic Pix will still be more cost-effective than both debit and credit card payments.

Who sets the Automatic Pix fees for receiving businesses?

For businesses (legal entities) that receive payments, financial and payment institutions are free to set their own commercial policies and charge fees for the service. The exact fee amount varies according to commercial criteria, taking into account factors such as operational costs, the company’s transaction volume, and any additional contracted services.

How likely are customers to adopt the new payment method?

The expectation is that Automatic Pix will spark a boom in the subscription market. Currently, this segment moves around R$1 billion per year in Brazil—a figure far behind more mature markets like the United States, which generates over R$50 billion annually. The growth potential is huge.

Is there a risk that Automatic Pix will strengthen the power of large companies?

No, Automatic Pix was designed to do the opposite—to lower entry barriers and increase competition. Because it’s a standardized feature that doesn’t require bank agreements, it tends to democratize access to recurring payments, allowing any company, including small businesses, to offer the service at lower cost and with high efficiency.

Consumer (Payer) FAQs

How can Automatic Pix be used

Automatic Pix can be used for recurring payments such as:

• Subscription boxes and services;
• Utility bills (water, electricity, phone, internet);
• Monthly fees (school, gym, etc.)
• Streaming services.

How secure is Automatic Pix?

All transactions are protected by encryption and authentication and must strictly follow the parameters defined by the user at the time of consent. If not, the transactions are automatically denied.

What specific security measures does Automatic Pix have?

A segurança é reforçada por várias camadas de controle para o consumidor:

• Prior and authenticated consent: No recurring charge can be initiated without the payer’s prior consent. This authorization is authenticated directly in the user’s banking app.
• Parameter setting:: At the time of authorization, the user defines clear rules for the charge, such as the maximum amount per transaction, payment frequency, due date, and even the expiration date of the authorization.
• Automatic verification: With each payment attempt, the system automatically checks whether it complies with the parameters defined by the payer. If a charge exceeds the authorized amount or falls outside the approved frequency, the transaction is immediately denied.
• Advance notification: The customer is notified by their bank in advance of the scheduled payment.
• Easy cancellation: The consumer can manage, pause, or cancel any authorization at any time directly through their banking app. In the case of a cancellation, it can be done up until 11:59 p.m. on the day before the charge is scheduled.

Does Automatic Pix require customer approval?

Yes. No transaction will be automatically debited without the customer’s prior and explicit authorization. The receiving company must obtain this authorization before it can schedule any debits. The customer has full control to decide which companies to authorize and to define the payment parameters.

How can recurring payments via Automatic Pix be canceled?

The payer has access to a dedicated section in their banking app where they can view all active authorizations. From there, they can select the authorization they wish to cancel, and the cancellation will be processed immediately by the financial institution. Cancellations can be made at any time, including up until 11:59 p.m. on the day before the next scheduled debit.

Is Automatic Pix free to use?

For the payer (individual), Automatic Pix is free of charge.

How does Automatic Pix handle unexpected situations like insufficient funds?

If there aren’t enough funds, the system can make up to three new debit attempts on different days within a seven-day period, always for the same amount. One key feature is that the consumer can choose at the time of authorization whether to allow the use of credit lines such as overdraft protection. This choice is stored and strictly followed by the system.

Who determines the charge amount—the payer or the receiver?

The amount to be debited is defined solely by the receiver, according to the contract. However, for added security, the payer can set a maximum amount per transaction (useful for variable bills) when authorizing the charge. This ensures that no debit exceeds the limit approved by the user.

In case of an incorrect charge, is it possible to request a refund (chargeback)?

No. Unlike credit cards, Automatic Pix doesn’t offer automatic refunds once the transaction is completed. Once the amount is debited, any refund must be negotiated directly with the receiving company. The system is focused on prevention, giving the user the power to cancel the authorization before the debit occurs to avoid incorrect charges.

General FAQs

When was Automatic Pix launched?

Automatic Pix was launched on June 16, 2025. As of this date, all Pix-participating institutions that provide services to payers are required to offer the functionality.

Can Automatic Pix be used to pay bills in installments?

No, Automatic Pix doesn’t allow installment payments. It’s intended for recurring payments. Installment functionality will be available through Pix Parcelado, which doesn’t yet have a launch date.

Is Automatic Pix different from a simple scheduled Pix payment?

Yes, they’re different features. Scheduled Pix payments require the user to take manual action for each payment or series of payments. Automatic Pix, on the other hand, is a system for automated management of recurring charges that works after a single user consent, and it even supports payments with variable amounts and frequencies.

Why was Automatic Pix only launched recently?

Its implementation depended on the maturity of the Pix infrastructure itself—especially the communication between institutions via SPI (Instant Payment System)—and the advancement of secure authentication mechanisms and consent management. With these foundations firmly in place, the Central Bank was able to move forward with the functionality safely.

Are there any trends or projected changes to Pix, such as potential taxation?

The observed trend is for Pix usage to keep expanding. Taxing transactions made by individuals is seen as unworkable, because it would be economically counterproductive and politically unpopular, undermining the financial inclusion that Pix has fostered.