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Portuguese VAT

Get information about how to be tax compliance when running a business in Portugal

What is a VAT Number?

Individuals or business entities must be identified for tax purposes by a unique number known as a VAT number in Portugal. The Número de Identificação de Estrangeiro, or NIE, is a unique and official number that can be traced to verify its authenticity. Therefore, whether a person or entity in a business relationship is trustworthy is a trusted business associate.

All foreign firms must obtain a tax identification number to do business in any way in Portugal. It allows them to sign a commercial lease agreement or conduct financial transactions when operating within the country.

How can a lawyer help me?

There are certain procedures that must be followed when dealing with foreign or international elements in Portugal. It can be challenging for foreign visitors or entrepreneurs in Portugal because procedures or standards that are commonplace elsewhere may be different there.

It’s easy for ex-pats and foreigners to miss these particularities when they are translated. Our team of corporate lawyers is here to help and simplify the way you do business, making ordinary and standard processes that are typically complex and challenging much simpler to navigate.

¨We will be with you each step of the journey.¨

What are the Requirements?

1. Certificate of Good Standing or Company Data document

The business must have a Certificate of Good Standing or Company Data document. This can be obtained from the registry of companies or fiscal/revenue authority of the country where the company is domiciled. It must include the following:

The company’s legal name
The company’s address
The company’s origin
The formation and registration date
The company exists and is genuine
The company’s corporate or tax ID number
The company’s representatives

For the company’s representatives, it must include their names and they must be legally bound to the company. It should also include the name of any other representatives in Portugal.

This paperwork must be legalized in the country where it’s issued and apostilled, or stamped, if that nation is part of the Hague Convention.

2. signed Power of Attorney and a legised copy of their passport and National Identity number

In case the applicant is not a company’s legal representative, they must provide a signed Power of Attorney and a legised copy of their passport and National Identity number.

3. The NIE application must be signed by the company’s legal representative

They must provide an ID card or a document showing their tax ID. If the documents are not Portuguese, you will need to appoint a sworn translator to translate the paperwork.

The Process of Getting a VAT Number

The tax number must be requested from the Portuguese tax authorities before any appointments are scheduled.

Lexidy’s corporate law team must ensure that all the paperwork is in order before the applicant attends the appointment.

The most difficult part of the process is ensuring that all the required documentation is correct and proper. Before starting the translation process, you must determine which documents need to be apostilled or be translated by a sworn translator.

It is always wise to work with a knowledgeable lawyer who is familiar with the Portuguese bureaucracy and how to cope with it.

They can assist you with the entire process by using Power of Attorney and also confirm if the company’s Good Standing certificate or Company Information document is legitimate.

OUR WORK

We are a department formed by qualified legal experts who have been trained in the field of immigration law. We work on these requests every day and it’s our passion. For us, Lexidy is a way of life and what excites us the most is to be able to deliver the happiness and satisfaction of a successful immigration process. We want to help you achieve your goals and dreams.

Head of Tax Department

Joana Mello

Joana is originally from Rio de Janeiro, but has been living in Lisbon for the last 7 years where she completed a Masters Degree in Tax Law, at Universidade Católica Portuguesa. She is specialized in international tax law, focusing on expat management. She loves assisting people who come to Portugal to facilitate their tax matters. Joana has worked at three recognized law firms in Lisbon. Languages: Portuguese, English and Spanish.

Tax Specialist

Rodrigo Gusmão

Rodrigo is a global citizen with work experience in Brazil, the UK, Germany, and Portugal. He is passionate about global mobility and enjoys assisting his clients in the ever-present tax challenges of relocating to a new country. Before joining the Lexidy team, Rodrigo worked with different Big Four firms around the world. He speaks English, German, Portuguese and French.

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11:50 23 May 20

Rui De Castro

23:07 22 May 20

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11:40 22 May 20

Bettino is a very, very professional lawyer who helped me get the residence card smoothly and encountered obstacles in the process of going to the immigration bureau. The staff of the immigration bureau firmly believed that it could not be continued. The immigration staff communicated, and finally the staff changed their attitude, which made me get the residence card smoothly. I sincerely thank Attorney Bettino for solving all the problems with his professional knowledge, ability, and confidence. The work is also very conscientious and attentive, patiently answering every question I have, the best wishes are presented to Bettino, the best lawyer in Lisbon 👍👍👍

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