Car on credit, leasing or renting: and the VAT?
Buying the car outright, on credit, on a lease or renting? See how the VAT you can deduct changes - and why a single-price renting package may give you nothing.
News, tips and guides for independent workers
Everything you need to know about invoicing, VAT and Social Security in Portugal.
Open Atividade Before CRUE with a Non-Resident NIF
Moving to Portugal as an EU/EEA freelancer with a foreign-address NIF? Learn what to do before CRUE and how to update your tax address with AT.
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Car running costs: fuel and charging on VAT
Diesel at 50%, petrol at 0%, electricity deductible - and the VAT of charging at home and on a wallbox, where the AT has said no. What you recover on car costs.
The car on IRS: simplified, organised, autonomous
In the simplified regime the coefficient presumes expenses, so the car barely counts. Organised accounting deducts, but there is autonomous tax, bar EVs.
Mixed-use car: personal and business in the tax
Using the car for work and at weekends? Personal use of a car whose VAT you deducted is taxable, and there are two '15%' that get confused. How to split.
Selling the car, declaring VAT and keeping records
Deducting the car's VAT doesn't end at purchase: where it goes on the return, what happens when you sell (VAT may apply) and why you keep records 10 years.
A work car: what you can deduct on VAT and IRS
Buying a car for your activity? The VAT you recover depends on the fuel and the price; and on IRS the car mostly lowers your tax under organised accounting.
Remote work for a foreign employer: freelance or employed?
Recibos verdes or a contract? Living in Portugal, working for a company abroad - how you're taxed, why Social Security is due here, and what decides it.
Give your accountant access without your tax office password
Never share your main Portal das Finanças password. Create an authorised user or grant access by NIF - with the right permissions, revocable whenever you want.
Chave Móvel Digital: one key for the whole State
The Chave Móvel Digital is one login for the Portal das Finanças, Segurança Social Direta and more. How to activate it and why it saves you passwords.
Recover your Portal das Finanças password fast
How to recover your Portal das Finanças password on the spot - and the one thing that decides whether you fix it in two minutes or wait five days for the post.
Content creators: taxes on YouTube, Twitch & Patreon
YouTube, Twitch, Patreon: you get paid from abroad, but the tax is here. Your activity code, the hidden VAT on what you buy, and Social Security - explained.
Couriers (Glovo, Uber Eats): the taxes, step by step
Delivering for Glovo or Uber Eats on green receipts? The right code, the hidden VAT on the commission, Social Security - and when you're a 'false' freelancer.
Upwork, Fiverr and Malt: invoices, commissions and VAT
Freelancing on international platforms? Declare the gross (not the net), the coefficient is 0.75 - and the commission makes you self-assess VAT even if exempt.
Psychologists and therapists: VAT, art. 9.º and the rest
Psychology sessions are VAT-exempt - but coaching and workshops aren't. The line is the therapeutic purpose. What changes for VAT, deduction and activity.
Tutors and trainers: VAT exemption and the DGERT
Giving tutoring or training? One of the two is VAT-exempt under art. 9.º, the other charges 23% - and the difference is a certification (DGERT), not your CCP.
TVDE driver (Uber, Bolt): the complete tax guide
Driving for Uber or Bolt? The certificate, the right code (0.35) - and why the 6% ride VAT and the 23% commission are the operator's, not yours.
Organized accounting vs simplified: when to switch
Compare IRS, Social Security and accountant costs in both regimes. See how expenses affect the calculation and which deadlines apply when switching.
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.
Invoicing in dollars or pounds: rate, VAT and receipt
A foreign client wants to pay in dollars? You can invoice in a foreign currency - but the value counts in euros, and VAT always goes in euros.
ATCUD and QR code: the mandatory codes on your invoices
That odd code and the QR square on the invoice aren't decoration - they're the ATCUD and QR code, required by law. What they are, since when, and what to do.
Certified invoicing software: when it's mandatory
Do you have to buy an invoicing program? Not always - the Portal das Finanças is the AT's free application. When certified software is mandatory.
How much to charge per hour: the formula with taxes in
Charging €20/hour and think it's good? After taxes, costs and unbilled hours, you keep far less. The formula to set the right price - everything included.
I invoice €1,000 a month: how much do I actually keep?
€1,000 invoiced isn't €1,000 in your pocket. See the bites - VAT, withholding, Social Security and income tax - and how much you actually keep.
Rental income on your IRS: category F or B?
You rent out a flat and don't know if it's category F or B, whether you need to open atividade, what rate you pay or what you can deduct? Here's everything in plain English.
Anexo L (IRS): how to declare your NHR or IFICI
You have NHR or IFICI and the IRS asks for the same income twice? It isn't a bug. Anexo L is where you declare the regime, without replacing the other annexes. Here's how.
CAE vs CIRS Code: The Difference and Your Code by Profession
CAE or the Article 151 code? A table by profession — lawyers, designers, musicians, nurses — the difference between the two and what to do if you pick wrong.
How to Reopen Your Atividade in Portugal After Closing It
Closed your activity and want to freelance again? Reopening is simple — but it differs from the first time. What changes for Social Security, VAT, and the mistakes to avoid.
What Is a Debit Note? (And Why You Rarely Need One)
A debit note increases the amount owed on an invoice. But freelancers rarely need one — a credit note plus a new invoice fixes most things. The difference, explained.
I Exceeded the €15,000 VAT Threshold Mid-Year. What Now?
You were VAT-exempt and suddenly realised you've crossed €15,000. Don't panic — here's exactly what to do, step by step.
Multiple CAE Codes at Once: the Designer Who Also Teaches
Do you have more than one activity? You can hold multiple CAE codes simultaneously. What changes, what stays the same, and why the income tax coefficients matter.
How to Suspend or Close Your Freelance Activity in Portugal
Work slowed down and you want to close your activity temporarily? Or for good? The process is simple — and yes, you can always reopen.
Working a Job and Freelancing at the Same Time: How It Works in Portugal
Have a job and want to take on side projects? It's legal, it's common in Portugal, and it's simpler than you think. Here's everything you need to know.
Recibo Verde or Fatura — What's Actually the Difference?
Most freelancers use the words interchangeably. In practice it usually works — but legally there are differences that can matter when it counts.
Subcontracting Between Freelancers: How to Hire Help and Deduct It as an Expense
Need help with a project? You can hire another freelancer. Their receipt is your expense — straightforward, legal, and deductible.
How to Ask Your European Client for Their VAT Number (and Avoid Unnecessary VAT)
If you provide B2B services to EU companies, you need their EU VAT number. Without it, you must charge Portuguese VAT. With it, reverse charge applies.
Issued a Wrong Recibo Verde? A Nota de Crédito Fixes It in 5 Minutes
Wrong amount, wrong VAT rate, a cancelled job — it happens to everyone. The good news: there's a simple legal mechanism that cancels the mistake in minutes.
Fatura Simplificada: When You Can Invoice Without the Client's NIF
The client left without giving their NIF. There's a perfectly legal solution — with three conditions you need to check before using it.
How to Open Atividade in Portugal as a Foreigner
How to open atividade in Portugal: first NIF, tax address, residence routes and NIF for digital nomads.
Which Document to Issue to Each Client? The Definitive Guide Without the Fuss
Fatura, fatura-recibo or recibo? The moment of payment decides the document. The client decides the rest: withholding, VAT and the recapitulativa.
Laptop Tax Deduction in Portugal: How to Deduct (and Depreciate) Equipment
Is a laptop tax deductible? Under €1,000 you deduct it in full in the year of purchase; over €1,000 depreciation applies (typically 25%/year over 4 years). Here are the exact rules for laptops, phones and cameras.
Home Office: How to Deduct Housing Expenses from Your Tax Return
Working from home? Part of your housing costs are deductible. The rule is simple: calculate your workspace proportion and apply it to your monthly bills.
How to Receive Payments as a Freelancer: Bank Transfer, MB Way, PayPal and the Rest
Bank transfer, MB Way, PayPal, Wise, cash — all are legal. What truly matters is always issuing an invoice. Full guide with the rules and limits.
Portal das Finanças in English: The Complete Guide
A guided tour of the Portal das Finanças, section by section. Where to file declarations, where to pay, where to check your fiscal status. After this, the portal stops being a maze.
The Complete Freelancer Glossary: 15 Words You Need to Know
NIF, IVA, coeficiente, retenção na fonte — the full vocabulary of Portuguese freelancer finances explained simply. 15 terms, no jargon.
E-fatura: The State Sees Everything — and That Is Good for You
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.
The Portuguese Tax Authority: Not the Monster You Think It Is
The Finance Portal has 4 main sections. The tax authority has phone support and a chat service. They want you to work legally. A no-nonsense guide to stop fearing the Finanças.
Open Your Freelance Activity in Portugal: Step by Step
Opening your activity takes about 20 minutes online. Step by step on the Finance Portal: CAE, simplified regime, the VAT trap, and when you don't need to.
How Much Does It Cost to Be a Freelancer in Portugal: The Real Numbers
Year one: zero Social Security, the IRS coefficient cut in half (if eligible), VAT only above €15,000. Real numbers, with examples at €1,000-3,000/month.
The Thresholds That Change Everything: €15,000 and €200,000
Two numbers every independent worker needs to know. Below €15,000 you don't charge VAT. Above €200,000 you leave the simplified regime. What changes at each threshold - explained with real examples.
You Already Know Accounting - You Just Don't Know the Names
Discover that you already do accounting every day without realizing it. 7 everyday actions that are actually accounting operations and their proper names.
I Was 28, Wanted to Go Freelance - And the Word Accounting Stopped Me for 2 Years
A real story about how the fear of accounting delayed the start of an independent career. The 5 truths nobody tells you about starting as a freelancer in Portugal.