{"id":308446,"date":"2025-07-16T02:27:02","date_gmt":"2025-07-16T02:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pocketoption.com\/blog\/news-events\/data\/buy-american-stocks\/"},"modified":"2025-07-16T02:27:02","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T02:27:02","slug":"buy-american-stocks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pocketoption.com\/blog\/en\/knowledge-base\/markets\/buy-american-stocks\/","title":{"rendered":"Buying American Stocks: How to Invest in the US Market from Brazil"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":177715,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[28,45,44],"class_list":["post-308446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-markets","tag-investment","tag-stock","tag-strategy"],"acf":{"h1":"Pocket Option: Buying American Stocks","h1_source":{"label":"H1","type":"text","formatted_value":"Pocket Option: Buying American Stocks"},"description":"Buying American stocks has become an accessible option for Brazilian investors seeking international diversification. Discover useful, exclusive and urgent strategies with Pocket Option","description_source":{"label":"Description","type":"textarea","formatted_value":"Buying American stocks has become an accessible option for Brazilian investors seeking international diversification. Discover useful, exclusive and urgent strategies with Pocket Option"},"intro":"Introduction: Investing in the US stock market can be a great diversification opportunity for Brazilians. In this full article, we will cover everything from the fundamentals to advanced strategies for buying US stocks, taking into account the characteristics of the Brazilian investor and how Pocket Option can be your ally in this journey.","intro_source":{"label":"Intro","type":"text","formatted_value":"Introduction: Investing in the US stock market can be a great diversification opportunity for Brazilians. In this full article, we will cover everything from the fundamentals to advanced strategies for buying US stocks, taking into account the characteristics of the Brazilian investor and how Pocket Option can be your ally in this journey."},"body_html":"

The growing Brazilian interest in buying American stocks<\/h2><\/div>

Between 2021 and 2024, the number of Brazilians who decided to buy American stocks increased by 420%, according to data from B3 and the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM). This explosion of interest is not casual: while the Ibovespa showed significant volatility, the S&P 500 grew approximately 64% in the last three years, offering not only consistent returns but also exposure to the largest global companies, geographic diversification, and protection against Brazilian economic instability. With digital platforms like Pocket Option, this process has become more accessible than ever, allowing investments starting from just US$10.<\/p><\/div>

For Brazilian investors, buying American stocks means participating in the growth of tech giants like Apple (AAPL), which appreciated 192% in the last five years, Microsoft (MSFT) with 228%, Amazon (AMZN) with 156%, and Alphabet\/Google (GOOGL) with 161% -- companies without direct equivalents on B3. Additionally, the S&P 500 index delivered an average annual return of 10.2% over the past 30 years, significantly outperforming the Brazilian CDI in real terms when adjusted for inflation.<\/p><\/div>

Before starting your journey to buy American stocks, it's essential to understand three critical aspects specific to Brazilians: differentiated taxation (with progressive rates from 15% to 22.5%), currency exposure (which can amplify gains or losses by up to 30% annually), and regulatory issues such as mandatory reporting to the Central Bank for amounts above US$100,000.<\/p><\/div>

Legal and tax aspects for Brazilians who want to invest in American stocks<\/h2><\/div>

The 2023 Tax Reform brought significant changes for Brazilians investing abroad, including the possibility of updating the calculation base of assets until December 2023 with a reduced rate of 8%. When buying American stocks as a Brazilian tax resident, you need to understand three layers of taxation: capital gains tax, dividend tax, and possible additional fees specific to each broker.<\/p><\/div>

Aspect<\/th>Brazil<\/th>United States<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Capital gains tax<\/td>15% (up to R$5 million), 17.5% (up to R$10 million), 20% (up to R$30 million) and 22.5% (above R$30 million)<\/td>No withholding for non-resident investors<\/td><\/tr>
Dividend tax<\/td>Exempt for individuals<\/td>30% withheld at source (reduced to 15% with properly completed W-8BEN form)<\/td><\/tr>
Mandatory declaration<\/td>Annual Income Tax Return (code 3.31 for stocks)<\/td>Brazilian Capital Abroad Declaration (CBE) quarterly (above US$100 million) or annual (above US$100 thousand)<\/td><\/tr>
Exemption limit<\/td>R$ 35,000.00 monthly in sales (approx. US$6,500)<\/td>Not applicable<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/div>

Practical example: If you invested R$10,000 in Apple stocks in January 2023 (equivalent to US$2,000 at that time) and sold for R$15,000 in January 2024, you would have a capital gain of R$5,000. On this amount, a 15% tax (R$750) will be charged, which must be paid via DARF by the last business day of the month following the sale. Pocket Option provides detailed reports that facilitate this calculation, including currency conversion at the correct dates, significantly simplifying this bureaucratic step.<\/p><\/div>

Income tax declaration for American investments<\/h3><\/div>

The declaration of investments abroad follows specific rules which, if not observed, can generate fines of up to 3% of the undeclared value. When buying American stocks, you should register these positions in the \"Assets and Rights\" form using the specific code 3.31 (Stocks). The value to be declared must be converted to reais using the PTAX dollar exchange rate (reference exchange rate calculated by the Central Bank) of December 31 of the base year.<\/p><\/div>

The Brazilian Capital Abroad Declaration (CBE) has two distinct deadlines: quarterly for those who have more than US$100 million (delivery by the 5th day of the second month after the quarter) and annual for those who have above US$100 thousand (delivery usually between February 15 and April 5). Non-compliance can result in fines ranging from R$2,500 to R$250,000, depending on the undeclared value and the delay.<\/p><\/div>

How to buy American stocks: step by step for the Brazilian investor<\/h2><\/div>

The process to buy American stocks involves five practical steps that a Brazilian investor needs to follow. Pocket Option simplifies this process with a fully Portuguese interface and 24\/7 local support, eliminating the main entry barriers faced by Brazilians.<\/p><\/div>

Step<\/th>Detailed description<\/th>Estimated time<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
1. Broker selection<\/td>Select a broker regulated by the SEC or FINRA with Portuguese support, such as Pocket Option (regulated by the SEC since 2015)<\/td>1-2 days for research<\/td><\/tr>
2. Account opening<\/td>Provide passport or RNE, proof of residence from the last 90 days, and a selfie with document<\/td>15-30 minutes for registration, 1-2 business days for approval<\/td><\/tr>
3. Fund remittance<\/td>Transfer via PIX to specialized fintechs like Remessa Online, Wise, or directly via international credit card on Pocket Option<\/td>Instantaneous (card) to 1 business day (transfer)<\/td><\/tr>
4. Stock selection<\/td>Use screening tools that filter stocks by sector, capitalization, dividends, or growth<\/td>Varies according to your strategy (from minutes to days)<\/td><\/tr>
5. Order execution<\/td>Choose between market order (immediate execution at current price) or limit order (execution only at the determined price)<\/td>Seconds (market) to days (limit)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/div>

A significant advantage when buying American stocks via Pocket Option is the possibility of acquiring fractional shares, allowing investments starting from US$1. This feature democratizes access to companies like Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A), whose shares cost more than US$450,000 each, or Amazon, which trades above US$3,000 per share. With just R$500, a Brazilian can create a diversified portfolio including fractions of 10 different large companies.<\/p><\/div>

Platforms and brokers for investing in American stocks<\/h3><\/div>

Choosing the right broker can significantly impact your results when buying American stocks. A careful comparison of costs, services, and available tools is essential to maximize the potential of your investments.<\/p><\/div>