João Pessoa protests unpaid IPTU debts, warns of credit restrictions

The municipality of João Pessoa can forward unpaid IPTU (property tax) debts that are in the city's active debt register to public protest registries. The process, described by André Coelho, prosecutor of the Finance Secretariat, is less severe than judicial fiscal execution and results in the debtor’s name being listed as "protested," which financial institutions and suppliers can see. This "name‑smeared" status may block access to credit, services, and commercial transactions.

Debtors can regularize the situation by paying the debt in full (with a 50 % discount on interest if paid promptly) or by parceling the amount without discount. Payments are made either directly at the designated cartório or to the municipality after the protest month, with associated fees. The city also offers the 2026 Fiscal Regularization Program (Refis) as an alternative route for renegotiating municipal tax liabilities.