Organized accounting vs simplified: when to switch
In the simplified regime a coefficient sets the taxable base; organized lets you deduct real expenses but needs an accountant. When it pays to switch.
News, tips and guides for independent workers
Everything you need to know about invoicing, VAT and Social Security in Portugal.
What's new in FIZ — July 2026
Tax office notifications now arrive inside FIZ: discrepancies, deadlines and fines in one place, without logging into the Portal. Plus the new three-step setup, a portal for the people who receive your invoices, and SEPA direct debit.
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Change-of-activity declaration: place, CAE or VAT
Changed activity, CAE or place of work? As a rule, 15 days to tell the Tax Authority (VAT has its own calendar). What triggers it and how to file.
Can't pay the tax? Payment plans (AT and Social Security)
An IRS or Social Security bill bigger than expected isn't the end: you can pay in instalments. How to request it, when it's guarantee-free, and what to avoid.
No-debt certificate (Tax and Social Security)
A tender, a loan or a landlord asks you to prove you have no debts to the State. It's two documents, free and instant. Where to click for each.
How to prove your income as a freelancer
With no payslip, proving what you earn looks hard. It isn't - a set of documents does it. And a common mistake that shuts doors: under-declaring.
The client won't pay: from overdue invoice to injunction
A client who won't pay is a freelancer's nightmare. The steps from reminder to injunction (an enforcement order) - and how to recover the VAT you advanced.
Monthly retainer: how to invoice fixed clients
A client who pays the same every month changes your tax relationship. What a retainer (avença) is, how to invoice it, and the economic-dependence catch.
Advance payments and deposits: how to invoice them
Ask for a deposit before starting? Great for cash flow - but the VAT becomes due the moment you're paid. How to invoice the advance and settle up at the end.