Blog
Practical guides on starting and running a company in Portugal. Each article lists its official sources and the date it was last verified.
Taxes
A tax calendar for the self-employed: VAT, withholding and income tax
Deadlines the Tax Authority leaflet states for income tax, payments on account, withholding and the periodic VAT return.
Last verified: September 20, 2026
Foreigners
Starting a company in Portugal online as a foreigner
What the IRN Create a Company page says about authentication for foreign citizens, digital signature and documents.
Last verified: September 20, 2026
Foreigners
A Portuguese tax number for foreigners, and a fiscal representative
How the Tax Authority leaflet describes a non-resident tax number and when a fiscal representative must be appointed.
Last verified: September 20, 2026
Start a company
Articles of association: a standard model or a custom text
What the Justice portal says about the articles of association, pre-approved models, and who can use a custom text.
Last verified: September 20, 2026
Accounting
Simplified regime or organised accounts
What the Tax Authority leaflet says about the €200,000 threshold, the move to organised accounts, and who files the activity start.
Last verified: September 20, 2026
Social security
Social security for the self-employed: when it starts
When self-employed social security cover starts, the quarterly return, and how the ISS guide describes the calculation, with no euro amounts.
Last verified: September 20, 2026
Taxes
Starting activity as an independent worker: what the tax office asks
How to register as an independent worker with the Portuguese tax office: what to prepare, what it asks for, income tax and VAT regimes and later obligations.
Last verified: September 20, 2026
Start a company
Empresa na Hora or Empresa Online: which to choose?
Compare the Empresa na Hora counter with the Empresa Online (Empresa 2.0) service: how each works, what it requires and what to do after creating the company.
Last verified: September 20, 2026
Taxes
VAT exemption for small businesses: the 15,000 € limit
The VAT exemption in article 53 of the Portuguese VAT Code: who can use it, the 15,000 € limit, what happens if you exceed it and what changed in 2025.
Last verified: September 20, 2026
Start a company
RCBE: what it is, who files and deadlines
What the RCBE (beneficial owner register) is, who can file, the 30-day deadline for the initial declaration and the annual confirmation by 31 December.
Last verified: September 20, 2026