# FIZ Blog

> FIZ (https://fiz.co) is a financial assistant for independent workers (trabalhadores independentes) and small businesses in Portugal. FIZ provides certified invoicing, automatic tax declarations (IVA/VAT and Seguranca Social), AI tax assistant, and tax shield protection.

> This blog publishes practical guides, tips, and news about accounting, taxes, invoicing, VAT, Social Security, and IRS for freelancers and self-employed workers in Portugal. Content is available in Portuguese (primary) and English.

## Key Topics

- Opening independent activity (abrir atividade) in Portugal
- Simplified tax regime (regime simplificado) vs organized accounting
- VAT/IVA exemption rules (Article 53 CIVA, threshold 15,000 EUR/year)
- Quarterly VAT and Social Security declarations
- Annual IRS income tax return for independent workers
- Invoicing (faturacao) requirements and certified invoicing
- Tax withholding (retencao na fonte) at 25%
- Social Security contributions (21.4% on 70% of income)
- Tax fines (coimas) and how to avoid them

## Articles (Portuguese)

- [Já sabes fazer contabilidade - só não sabes o nome das coisas](https://blog.fiz.co/ja-sabes-fazer-contabilidade-so-nao-sabes-o-nome-das-coisas): Descobre que já fazes contabilidade todos os dias sem saber. 7 ações do dia-a-dia que são operações contabilísticas e os nomes certos para cada uma.
- [5 Coisas Que Assustam na Contabilidade - E Porque Nenhuma Delas é Assim Tão Má](https://blog.fiz.co/5-coisas-que-assustam-na-contabilidade): Os 5 maiores medos dos freelancers sobre contabilidade desmistificados. Coimas, fórmulas, inspeções - descobre porque nada é tão assustador como parece.
- [Tinha 28 anos, queria abrir atividade - e a palavra contabilidade travou-me 2 anos](https://blog.fiz.co/tinha-28-anos-queria-abrir-atividade-e-contabilidade-travou-me): Uma história real sobre como o medo da contabilidade adiou o início da atividade independente. As 5 verdades que ninguém conta sobre começar como freelancer.
- ['Preciso primeiro entender os impostos' - e outras desculpas que te impedem de começar](https://blog.fiz.co/preciso-primeiro-entender-os-impostos-e-outras-desculpas): As 4 grandes desculpas que impedem aspirantes a freelancer de abrir atividade. Descobre porque são treta e o que realmente precisas saber antes de começar.
- [Porque é que Pessoas Inteligentes Têm Medo da Contabilidade - E Não É Culpa Delas](https://blog.fiz.co/porque-pessoas-inteligentes-tem-medo-da-contabilidade): Tens mestrado e falas três línguas, mas a declaração trimestral de IVA dá-te pânico? Descobre porque o medo da contabilidade é racional - e como ultrapassá-lo.

## Articles (English)

- [You Already Know Accounting - You Just Don't Know the Names](https://blog.fiz.co/en/you-already-know-accounting): Discover that you already do accounting every day without realizing it. 7 everyday actions that are actually accounting operations and their proper names.
- [5 Things That Scare You About Accounting - And Why None of Them Are That Bad](https://blog.fiz.co/en/5-scary-accounting-things): The 5 biggest fears freelancers have about accounting, debunked. Fines, formulas, inspections - discover why nothing is as scary as it seems.
- [I Was 28, Wanted to Go Freelance - And the Word Accounting Stopped Me for 2 Years](https://blog.fiz.co/en/i-was-28-accounting-stopped-me): 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.
- ['I Need to Understand Taxes First' - And Other Excuses Stopping You From Starting](https://blog.fiz.co/en/excuses-that-stop-you-from-starting): The 4 big excuses that stop aspiring freelancers from registering their activity. Discover why they're nonsense and what you really need to know before starting.
- [Why Smart People Fear Accounting - And It's Not Their Fault](https://blog.fiz.co/en/why-smart-people-fear-accounting): You have a master's degree and speak three languages, but the quarterly VAT declaration gives you panic? Discover why the fear of accounting is rational - and how to overcome it.

## About FIZ

- Website: https://fiz.co
- Help Center: https://help.fiz.co
- Sign Up: https://app.fiz.co/auth

## Optional

- [Full content for LLMs](/llms-full.txt)