📘 Screen: Nature of Operation
The nature of the operation is the phrase printed at the top of the invoice stating why that invoice is being issued: "Other outflows", "Sale of the establishment's production", "Shipment for storage", "Purchase return". This is where those phrases are registered, along with what type of invoice each one generates.
This record is used for issuing electronic invoices (NF-e, the Brazilian electronic invoice). The nature is only asked for on the NF-e Transmission screen — the regular Inventory Movement, which only records inventory inflows and outflows, does not show this field. If you don't transmit NF-e through the system, you don't need to touch anything here.
📍 Location in the system
Menu: Basic > Nature of Operation
🧩 Main function
Standardize the natures offered in the NF-e Transmission header and, along with the phrase, define two pieces of information that go on the invoice without anyone typing them: the purpose and whether the invoice is inbound or outbound.
📝 Main fields
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Code | Short identifier, optional. It is usually left blank: people look for the nature by its phrase. |
| Name/Description | Required, 60 characters max. It is the text printed in the invoice header — "Other outflows", "Sale of the establishment's production". Over 60 characters, the system refuses to save. |
| NF-e Purpose | What the invoice is for the Receita Federal (Brazilian tax authority): 1 - Normal,
2 - Supplementary, 3 - Adjustment or 4 - Return. It comes
pre-filled with Normal, which is the case for the vast majority of invoices. |
| Operation type | Whether the invoice is 1 - Outbound or 0 - Inbound.
It comes pre-filled with Outbound. |
| Active | Uncheck it to remove the nature from the NF-e Transmission list without affecting invoices already issued. |
The list shows Code, Description, NF-e Purpose, Operation type and Active, with search on each column.
🧾 What each field does on the invoice
Choosing the nature in NF-e Transmission fills in three things at once, which is why it pays to register it properly:
- the description becomes the nature of the operation printed in the invoice header;
- the purpose tells the Receita Federal whether that invoice is normal, supplementary, an adjustment or a return;
- the operation type declares the invoice as inbound or outbound.
In NF-e Transmission the nature is required, and the field shows the phrase together with the purpose — "Other outflows - 1 - Normal" —, so two natures with similar text aren't confused. Only the active natures of the company you are in appear.
You don't need many: most farms handle their day-to-day with one or two phrases. Register a new one only when the purpose or the type really changes.
- The invoice phrase always comes out the same, with no typing variations
- The invoice's purpose and type go along with the phrase, without relying on the memory of whoever transmits
- A single choice in the header settles three pieces of NF-e information
❓ Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the nature of operation and the CFOP?
The nature of the operation is the plain-language phrase that explains the whole invoice and is printed in the header. The CFOP is the four-digit code that classifies each item for the tax authority. An invoice has only one nature, but it can have different CFOPs item by item.
I registered the nature and it doesn't show up in Inventory Movement. Why?
Because the nature of the operation is only asked for in NF-e Transmission. The regular Inventory Movement, for inventory inflows and outflows, does not issue invoices and so does not show this field. If the nature doesn't show up in Transmission either, check that it is Active and that it was registered in the company you are working in.
How many natures do I need to register?
Just a few. Register one phrase for each situation the farm actually issues invoices for — many properties work with one or two. It is only worth creating another when the purpose (normal, supplementary, adjustment, return) or the type (inbound or outbound) is different; changing just the wording does not justify a new record.
The description won't save and a warning appears. Why?
The text is over 60 characters. That is the limit for the nature of operation on the invoice — shorten the phrase, removing details that already appear in other fields of the invoice.
Do I need one nature for each CFOP?
No. The two are independent: register natures for the situations the farm actually issues invoices for (sale, shipment, return, transfer) and leave the CFOP for each item's tax details.