The Supreme Federal Court (STF) unanimously decided this Monday (3rd) to expand the tax benefit regarding the exemption from taxes on the acquisition of new vehicles by individuals with disabilities. This change extends the benefit to people with milder forms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), who were previously outside the legal scope.
The reporting minister, Alexandre de Moraes, voted to exclude from the complementary law of the tax reform the sections that limited the exemption only to mental disability classified as 'severe or profound' and autism of 'moderate or severe' level. This norm, sanctioned by Congress in 2025, establishes the rules for the state and municipal Goods and Services Tax (IBS) and the federal Goods and Services Contribution (CBS), defining the cases of zero rate.
However, the decision does not imply an automatic conversion of a level 1 diagnosis into the right to exemption. According to Moraes, the determining factor must be the specific condition of each individual, and not just the label of the support level. He emphasized that 'within level 1 there are different levels that fit the reasons why the constitutional amendment provided for the exemption of the rate,' concluding that the legislation 'went far beyond what it could have.'
Although the Attorney General of the Union defended maintaining fiscal balance, the issue was addressed tangentially by the ministers, without any projection of revenue loss being presented. Moraes assured that the modification would not bring 'any fiscal trouble' to the Union, citing data from the Autism Brazil Map, which indicates approximately 12.6 thousand people at level 1 of the spectrum. He added: 'If all these people asked, and every three years, there would be 4,000 people per year. Obviously, this will not end the automotive industry in the country.'
The Ministry of Finance was contacted to provide the impact calculation but did not provide a response.
The judgment covered two distinct actions. The Blue Ocean Institute argues that the law imposes excessive requirements for proving disability, which resulted in the exclusion of level 1 autistic individuals. Simultaneously, ANAPCD (National Association for Support to People with Disabilities) alleges unequal treatment, since the norm requires adaptations made in workshops accredited by Detrans, without recognizing configurations that come from the factory, such as electric steering or automatic transmission.
According to the complementary law, IBS and CBS are not applied to the sale of domestically manufactured passenger cars with at least four doors when the buyer has certain disabilities, including dwarfism and low vision. The STF maintained the rule that prohibits new exemptions before three years have passed.
The rapporteur's vote was supported by Flávio Dino, Cristiano Zanin, André Mendonça, Kassio Nunes Marques, Luiz Fux, Dias Toffoli, Cármen Lúcia, and Gilmar Mendes. Luiz Fux stated that a complementary law cannot establish categories of diseases not provided for in the constitutional amendment, while Cármen Lúcia argued that the exemption constitutes a constitutional guarantee, not a privilege. The process began in June but was suspended before its merits were analyzed.
The state of Tamil Nadu is preparing to launch online alcohol sales. This initiative aims to address the issue of inflated prices for various alcohol brands in the region.
According to a report, the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC) plans to introduce a mobile application on Thursday. With this app, buyers will be able to check prices before visiting a store and place orders online.
The new TASMAC online system will be implemented across all 4038 retail liquor stores in the state. The application will provide customers with numerous options: they can find the nearest outlet, see which brands are available there, and view the exact cost of the order even before it is placed from home or anywhere else.
According to a senior employee of the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited, this application will help buyers avoid long queues at TASMAC sales points. After placing an order, the customer will receive a QR code, which can be presented at the retail point after payment to receive the alcohol.
The main advantage of the TASMAC Online Shopping App will be the display of the price depending on the alcohol brand and the ability to make payments online. Thus, buyers will no longer have to pay an amount exceeding the Maximum Retail Price (MRP).
One of the reasons for creating this application was that previously TASMAC employees were held accountable for accusations of illegally charging inflated amounts. This step has been taken to tighten measures in such cases. Employees expect that thanks to the fixed and transparent pricing system in the application and digital payments, the number of complaints about excessive charges will decrease.
While the online alcohol reservation feature via the app starts in Tamil Nadu on August 6th, it should be noted that previously registered buyers in West Bengal could reserve alcohol through the eRetail portal. In Odisha, the government has also permitted home delivery of alcohol through licensed stores and authorized platforms.
When buying a phone, people often spend significant amounts of money, but when choosing a charging cable, they often opt for the cheapest option. Many mistakenly believe that all USB Type-C cables are identical. The question arises: why buy an expensive cable if the phone is just charging? This is a common misconception.
Although two USB Type-C cables may look the same, internal components such as wires, chips, data transfer capacity, and safety features can differ significantly. This is why one cable might only be usable for charging a phone, while another can charge a laptop, power a 4K monitor, and ensure fast data transfer.
To understand the difference between budget and expensive cables, you should pay attention to the internal construction. The true power of the cable is inside, not on the outside. Quality cables use thick, high-quality copper wires, which minimizes energy loss and ensures the safe delivery of more power.
Cheap cables sometimes use thin wires or low-quality materials. Such cables can handle regular charging, but their performance drops when high power is supplied. A common myth is the assertion that any USB-C cable supports fast charging.
USB Type-C is just a connector name, which does not mean that every Type-C cable will support fast charging at 100W or 240W. Some cables are rated only for 15W or 18W, while others can handle power from 60W to 100W and even 240W.
If you have a 100W charger but the cable is only rated for 18W, you will not get the full charging speed. A significant difference is also observed during data transfer. Many assume that data transfer speed is the same in all cables, but this is not the case. Some USB-C cables only support USB 2.0 speed, which is about 480 Mbps.
Other cables support USB 3.2, USB4, or Thunderbolt standards, allowing large files to be transferred much faster. This difference becomes apparent, for example, when copying a video from a phone to a laptop. Expensive cables may be equipped with a special chip. Many USB-C cables capable of supporting 100W or more have a built-in E-Marker chip.
This chip informs the charger and the device about the maximum power the cable can safely handle. Without this chip, high-power charging is either impossible or limited.
The question of whether expensive cables are safer has no definitive answer, as price itself does not guarantee safety. However, quality cables may have improved insulation, more reliable connectors, and a better heat management system.
If a cable is manufactured according to standards such as USB-IF and passes necessary safety tests, the probability of its long-term safe operation is higher. Quality and certification are more important than just a high price.
Regarding durability, good cables often feature reinforced braided sheaths, stronger connectors, and a design that protects against breakage from repeated bending, which can extend service life compared to ordinary cables. Nevertheless, this does not mean that every expensive cable will last forever.
The most frequent question concerns phone damage. If you use a cable from a reputable, standard-compliant company, the fact that it is cheap or expensive will not cause your phone to break. However, very low-quality or counterfeit cables can reduce safety levels, potentially causing issues with charging speed, overheating, or premature cable failure.
When choosing a cable, you should not rely solely on the price. You need to check what charging power it supports. If you need to charge a laptop, you may require a cable capable of supporting 100W or more. When transferring large files, it is better to choose a cable that supports USB 3.2 or USB4. If only phone charging is required, purchasing an excessively expensive cable is not always necessary.
The difference between cables costing 100 and 1500 rupees is not just in price. It is determined by the power the cable can handle, the speed at which it can transfer data, the wires and chips inside, and how reliably it will operate over time. Therefore, next time you choose a USB Type-C cable, do not just look at the external appearance; the internal differences determine whether you will get the correct charging, fast data transfer, and reliable long-term use.
