Caixa 2 (pt-BR|caixa dois pronounced as /pt/, "cash box 2") is a term used in Brazil to refer to illegal bookkeeping practices that hide financial transactions from authorities.[1] [2]
Caixa dois includes methods to evade taxes by misrepresenting income. They include parallel bookkeeping, in which accounts declared to tax authorities are manipulated down in value to reduce tax burden. The difference between declared income and that actually received is said to have gone to "cashbox two". Mechanisms for manipulation include failing to invoice, or documenting different financial amounts or goods and services than in transactions that actually occurred.
Caixa dois practices may also be used by larger businesses or public entities to disguise the source of or the use of funds.[3] For example, a slush fund may be used to hide payments for illegal services such as bribes to win contracts or access to privileged information to which the payee is not entitled.
In Brazil caixa dois crimes that involve money laundering[1] [4] or organized crime[1] are liable to trial at the Supreme Federal Court, the country's highest court of law.
In Portugal pt|saco azul|label=none[5] is a term used to refer to the same concept as caixa dois.