CNPJ registration status: what each status means

The registration status (situação cadastral) is the most important piece of information when looking up a CNPJ, Brazil's federal company registration number. It tells you whether the company is operating normally or facing some restriction. The Receita Federal (Brazil's federal tax authority) classifies CNPJs into 5 registration statuses — understanding each one is essential to do business safely.

The 5 CNPJ registration statuses

Code 2 — Ativa (active)

The company is operating normally, with all obligations up to date with the Receita Federal. This is the ideal status for any business relationship. Of the more than 66 million companies registered in Brazil, around 26.8 million have Ativa status.

Code 3 — Suspensa (suspended)

The company had its CNPJ temporarily suspended by the Receita Federal. The most common reasons are:

• A closure request in progress
• Irregularities in the registered address
• Pending registration issues
• An ongoing administrative decision

Unlike closure, suspension is reversible once the underlying issue is resolved.

Code 4 — Inapta (non-compliant)

The company was declared inapta for failing to file mandatory returns (such as DCTF, ECF, or DEFIS) for two consecutive fiscal years. A company in this status:

• Cannot issue invoices (notas fiscais)
• Cannot take part in public procurement
• Has its state tax registration suspended in several states
• May have its bank accounts blocked

It can be regularized by filing the overdue returns and paying the late fines. Millions of companies in Brazil are in this status.

Code 8 — Baixada (closed)

The company formally ended its activities. The CNPJ was cancelled with the Receita Federal and can no longer be used to issue invoices, hold bank accounts, or carry out any business operation. Closure can be requested by the owner or ordered ex officio by the Receita. The specific reasons (absorption, spin-off, merger, bankruptcy, judicial liquidation) are recorded separately in the "reason for registration status" field.

Code 1 — Nula (null)

The CNPJ was declared null by the Receita Federal, usually because the registration was made with false or fraudulent information. It is the most serious status — it means the company should never have legally existed. Doing business with a company whose CNPJ is null is extremely risky.

Why check the registration status?

Checking the registration status before any business transaction is an essential due diligence practice:

• Purchasing: avoid paying a company that cannot issue an invoice
• Suppliers: make sure the supplier is compliant to preserve tax deductibility
• Partnerships: protect yourself from associating with irregular companies
• Contracts: validate the company before signing agreements
• Public procurement: inactive or non-compliant companies are barred from bidding

How to check the registration status

On Inddex, the registration status is displayed prominently on each company's profile, with a visual indicator (green for active, red for closed, yellow for non-compliant or suspended).

Besides the current status, Inddex shows the date of the last change to the registration status, so you can see when the company's status changed.

Registration status by state

On Inddex you can browse companies by state and see how registration statuses are distributed across each region. The companies by state page shows the total number of active companies in each state (UF), with rankings of economic activities and municipalities.

Frequently asked questions

How do you regularize a non-compliant (inapta) CNPJ?

To regularize an inapta CNPJ, you must file all overdue returns (usually DCTF and ECF) and pay the late-filing fines. Once filed, the Receita Federal processes the regularization within 30 days.

Can a closed company be reactivated?

Generally, no. Once closed, a CNPJ cannot be reactivated. The business would have to be incorporated again under a new CNPJ. There are exceptions for ex officio closures, where the owner can request a reversal within 5 years.

What is the difference between inapta and suspensa?

The inapta status is caused specifically by the failure to file mandatory returns for 2 years. The suspensa status has varied causes (a closure in progress, registration irregularities, etc.) and is usually temporary.

How long does it take for a CNPJ to be closed after the business shuts down?

If the owner requests voluntary closure, the process takes 30 to 60 days. The Receita Federal can also close non-compliant CNPJs ex officio after a certain period without regularization.