Spend in dollars without converting to reais
If you earn or hold dollars, converting to reais just to spend is throwing money away. Here is how to use your USD balance directly.
The mistake of converting everything to reais
- Convert US$ → R$: you already lose on the incoming FX.
- Spend on a Brazilian card: 3.5% IOF + spread, converting R$ → US$ again.
- Result: you paid conversion (and IOF) just to spend the dollars you already had.
Spend straight from your dollar balance
Convert only what you need
Who this fits best
- Freelancers and businesses paid by clients abroad.
- Anyone with a salary or income in a strong currency.
- Anyone holding dollars as a reserve and spending gradually.
- Anyone paying for tools, subscriptions and travel in dollars.
How to do it in practice
- Receive in dollars (or add via Pix, 0.5%).
- Leave the balance in dollars, no automatic conversion.
- Spend directly with the card, in dollars, no IOF.
- Convert to reais only what you’ll use in Brazil, when the rate is better.
SaaS, ads and international subscriptions
Tracking dollar expenses for IRPF
| Feature | Brazilian card abroad | Ruvo — hold and spend in USD |
|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion | Automatic at bank's rate | You choose when to convert |
| IOF | 3.5% per purchase | 0% |
| FX rate | Tourist / spread (3%–7%) | Commercial rate (0.5%) |
| Rate flexibility | None — locked at spend time | Convert at any favourable moment |
| Hold a dollar balance | No | Yes — earn, hold, spend |
| Pix payout in Brazil | Not available | Yes — any Pix key |
Because converting to reais and then spending abroad (which converts back to dollars) makes you pay FX twice, plus IOF on a Brazilian card.
By holding the dollar balance at Ruvo and using the card: dollar purchases come straight from the USD balance, with 0% IOF and 0% spread.
It stays held in dollars, protected from swings in the real. You convert to reais only what you need, when you want.
You avoid locking in an unfavorable rate at the moment of purchase. When reais strengthen, you convert at a better moment instead of forcing the exchange at spend time.
You can receive dollars via ACH, wire or digital transfer — all free. Or convert from reais at 0.5%, at the commercial rate, whenever you choose.
Yes. You can convert your dollar balance to reais and pay via Pix to any Brazilian Pix key, any time of day.
