This article is about the securities you buy through Brazilian fixed income — CDB, LCI, LCA, Tesouro Direto, debentures and the rest. Other ARQ products that generate yield work differently and are covered in their own articles.
There are two ways a Brazilian fixed income security pays you: periodically, through coupons, or all at once at maturity. Either way, you don't need to do anything — the money arrives in your ARQ account automatically, already net of tax.
Interest payments (coupons)
Some securities pay interest periodically — monthly or semi-annually — instead of paying everything at maturity. These payments are called coupons.
When one of your securities pays a coupon, the amount goes straight to your ARQ account, already net of income tax when applicable. Your position in the security stays as it is.
You can check whether a security pays coupons, and how often, on its details screen before you invest. Securities that pay everything at the end are shown as paying at maturity.
What happens when a security matures
You don't need to do anything. On the maturity date:
The security is redeemed automatically
Income tax on the earnings is withheld at source, when applicable
The net amount — your invested capital plus interest — is credited to your ARQ account
The security then leaves your portfolio, and you'll find the payment in your transaction history.
Nothing is reinvested automatically
This applies to both coupons and maturity payments: the money stays available in your account for you to decide the next step.
If you want those earnings to keep earning, invest them again in any available security.