Accounting and tax support for foreign founders setting up a company in Portugal, from NIF documentation to tax registration and ongoing accounting. Legal incorporation must be arranged through an official service or qualified provider.
Company registration in Portugal involves legal, tax and accounting steps. A Portuguese Certified Accountant can help define the tax and bookkeeping arrangements while company incorporation is handled by an official service or a qualified provider.
Whether you plan a Unipessoal, Lda or self-employed activity, accounting and tax support in English is available for the applicable registration and reporting steps. Legal incorporation and company statutes must be arranged separately.
Foreign founders can request accounting and tax support in English or Portuguese. The legal registration route and documentation depend on the chosen structure.
Choose the legal structure that best fits your business — we advise on the most tax-efficient option
The most popular option for solo entrepreneurs. A single-member limited company with full legal personality, limited liability and access to corporate tax rates (IRC). Ideal for freelancers, consultants and digital nomads scaling their business.
Standard private limited company structure for businesses with multiple shareholders. Flexibility to bring in investors, distribute dividends and operate with full corporate status. The most common structure for SMEs and joint ventures.
For self-employed professionals operating under the simplified or organized accounting regime. Best for lower revenue businesses. Income is taxed under IRS (personal income tax) rather than IRC. Easy to set up and low maintenance costs.
For larger businesses seeking investment or planning to go public. Requires higher minimum capital and more formal governance structures. Suitable for startups raising venture capital or established international operations.
For foreign companies wanting a physical presence in Portugal without incorporating a separate legal entity. The branch acts as an extension of the parent company. Suitable for market testing and EU operations expansion.
Specialized structures for real estate investment and management. Includes tax-optimized vehicles for property holding, rental income and property development. Popular among foreign investors in the Portuguese real estate market.
The main legal, tax and accounting steps; legal incorporation is arranged independently
Request a free quote tailored to your business, preferred legal structure and accounting needs.
We support the NIF documentation and tax-registration steps needed for the company. Any separate legal appointment required for a non-resident must be arranged independently.
Company-name approval and statutes are handled through the official registration route or by a qualified legal provider. We can advise on the related tax and accounting setup.
Company registration and NIPC allocation take place through official registration channels. Accounting and tax setup can follow the legal registration.
Tax and Social Security registration where applicable; sector-specific licences must be checked with the competent authorities or a qualified provider.
We define the accounting workflow, review invoicing requirements and identify the periodic tax obligations applicable to your activity.
Tax and accounting support before and after legal incorporation
Guidance on the tax-number documentation needed for company incorporation and coordination of the accounting registration steps.
Review of the tax and accounting steps for a Unipessoal, Lda or other business structure. Statutes, registration and NIPC are handled by the official service or a qualified provider; no completion time is guaranteed.
Review of eligibility for regimes such as IFICI (the successor to the closed NHR regime). Eligibility is decided by the Tax Authority and no benefit is guaranteed.
Registration for VAT (IVA) and Social Security for the company and its managers, plus the accounting framework needed to start issuing invoices.
Monthly bookkeeping, VAT returns, payroll, SAF-T reporting, annual accounts and IES (annual business information) filing — 100% online.
Corporate income tax (IRC) returns, withholding taxes, dividend taxation, transfer pricing documentation and permanent establishment compliance.
Yes. Portugal does not require Portuguese nationality or residency to register a company. Foreign founders need a Portuguese NIF and must satisfy any additional requirements applicable to their residence and intended structure. Many entrepreneurs from Brazil, the UK, USA, Germany and other countries successfully register Portuguese companies every year.
The timing depends on the official registration route, the chosen structure and the completeness of the documents. We can outline the accounting and tax steps, but do not guarantee an incorporation or NIF issuance date.
Official registration fees depend on the route and company structure. Fees for accounting and tax support are set out in a personalised proposal; legal incorporation is handled through an official service or qualified provider.
Most digital nomads choose between: (1) ENI (individual entrepreneur) — simpler, lower costs, taxed as personal income (IRS); (2) Unipessoal — limited liability, corporate tax rates (IRC), better for higher revenues. New residents who carry out qualifying activities may be able to apply the IFICI regime, which offers a reduced rate on eligible Portuguese-source income, but only if they meet the legal conditions. We recommend a personalised analysis based on your revenue and nationality.
A company needs a registered address in Portugal. Any virtual-office address must be supplied and contracted through an eligible external provider; we do not provide one ourselves.
The obligations depend on the company and may include VAT, invoice reporting, IRC and annual accounts. The accounting tasks included in our service are specified in the individual proposal; corporate legal formalities must be handled separately.
Many incorporation and accounting steps can be coordinated remotely. Any separate legal appointment, power of attorney or service outside our accounting scope must be arranged independently with an eligible provider.
The previous NHR regime was repealed from 1 January 2024 and is generally closed to new applicants. Existing registrations continue, and transitional rules may still apply to eligible people who became resident in 2024. IFICI is a separate incentive with its own eligibility conditions. We can review your circumstances; no benefit is automatic.
Set up the accounting and tax side of your Portuguese company with support in English. Request a quote — no commitment required.