What's new in FIZ — June 2026
You can now take card payments right on your phone with Tap to Pay, on iPhone and Android. Plus a redesigned public API with an AI skill, the close of IRS season, and a reworked Finances section.
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News, tips and guides for independent workers
Everything you need to know about invoicing, VAT and Social Security in Portugal.
Waiving the art. 53.º exemption: when it pays
You're IVA-exempt, but sometimes charging IVA voluntarily earns more. When it pays, with the maths, plus the 5-year lock-in.
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Reverse charge: the Google & Meta invoices you pay IVA on
You're exempt under art. 53.º, but buying Google or Meta ads forces you to self-assess 23% IVA in Portugal. The trap explained.
6%, 13% or 23%: which VAT rate you apply
Portugal's three VAT rates (6%, 13%, 23%), with examples plus the lower Madeira and Azores rates. Work out which one you apply.
Anexo A (IRS): your salary on a freelancer's tax return
Got a salary and recibos verdes? Anexo A comes pre-filled, but two things trip everyone up: what retenção really is and the deduction you can't reuse.
Anexo B (IRS): how to fill it without losing your head
Recibos verdes on the simplified regime? Anexo B looks like a maze of quadros, but for most people it's 3 or 4 fields. Here's which ones, in plain English.
How to Reopen Your Atividade in Portugal After Closing It
Closed your activity and want to freelance again? Reopening is simple — but it differs from the first time. What changes for Social Security, VAT, and the mistakes to avoid.
Social Security -25% Option: How It Works
In the quarterly declaration you can adjust the base by up to 25%. See the impact on BIC, contributions, sickness, parental leave and pension.
What Is a Debit Note? (And Why You Rarely Need One)
A debit note increases the amount owed on an invoice. But freelancers rarely need one — a credit note plus a new invoice fixes most things. The difference, explained.