What If You Simply Do Nothing? What Actually Happens
Working without opening activity, not issuing invoices, not paying Social Security — for each scenario, the real and concrete consequences. Acting now is far simpler.
Everything you need to know about invoicing, VAT and Social Security in Portugal.
Tax mistakes happen. Here's how Portugal's notification system actually works and what to do when you get something wrong.
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Working without opening activity, not issuing invoices, not paying Social Security — for each scenario, the real and concrete consequences. Acting now is far simpler.
The law is clear: below €200,000 in annual turnover, you are not required to have a certified accountant. But many freelancers keep paying for a service they don't need.
Where to find the form, what each field means, where the numbers come from. Your first periodic VAT declaration on the Finance Portal takes 20 minutes.
VAT seems complicated until you understand how it works. If you invoice under €15,000 a year, you don't charge VAT at all. If you invoice more, you're just the middleman.
The VAT you charge clients is never yours. Understand how the VAT chain works, the quarterly declaration deadlines, and what happens when you cross the €15,000 threshold.
In the simplified regime you only pay income tax on 75% of what you invoice — not on everything. Understand how the coefficient works, progressive brackets, and when to file your annual declaration.
How long to keep documents (4 years for most), what counts as a tax document, whether a digital copy is enough, and what happens if you cannot produce them during an audit.
The e-fatura system automatically records every invoice linked to your NIF. Far from being a threat, it is your best protection: your IRS return is pre-filled and you have proof you work legally.