Your situation
You work remotely from Portugal, for clients or an employer based elsewhere. The question is not where your laptop is: it is where your tax residence is.
The 183-day threshold
Past 183 days of presence in Portugal over twelve months you generally become tax resident — and you report your worldwide income here, subject to any applicable double tax treaty.
VAT on services to foreign clients
| Client | Usual rule |
|---|---|
| EU business with a valid VAT number | Reverse charge by the client |
| Business outside the EU | Outside the scope of Portuguese VAT |
| Consumer in the EU | Depends on the nature of the service |
| Consumer in Portugal | Portuguese VAT |
Employed by a foreign company
Keeping a foreign employment contract while living in Portugal engages both tax law and social security — two regimes that do not necessarily follow the same logic. It needs looking at case by case.
The EA services for this situation
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Freelancer registration
Registering as a self-employed worker costs €40 plus VAT. It covers choosing the activity code, your IVA treatment, registration with Segurança Social, and an explanation of the obligations that start to apply.
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Freelancer accounting
Accounting for a freelancer in Portugal costs between €25 and €75 per month plus VAT, depending on your regime, invoicing volume and whether you work with clients abroad. It covers recibos verdes, IVA, withholding tax, Segurança Social and IRS.
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Investment taxation
We handle the tax treatment of crypto assets, ETFs and shares in Portugal, for residents and non-residents alike: how income is classified, capital gains calculation, holding periods and IRS reporting.
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Consulting
Consulting is charged at €75 per hour plus VAT. The first consultation is free: it frames your question, identifies which obligations apply and sets out the way forward, with no commitment.