What's new in FIZ — August 2026
Connecting your bank now happens inside FIZ, with the booked balance and open tasks in plain sight. Plus the tax calendar for companies, automatic Fatura-Recibo for Stripe payments, and Bluetooth receipt printing.
Equipa FIZ
Articles by Equipa FIZ
What's new in FIZ — July 2026
Tax office notifications now arrive inside FIZ: discrepancies, deadlines and fines in one place, without logging into the Portal. Plus the new three-step setup, a portal for the people who receive your invoices, and SEPA direct debit.
Organized accounting vs simplified: when to switch
In the simplified regime a coefficient sets the taxable base; organized lets you deduct real expenses but needs an accountant. When it pays to switch.
Change-of-activity declaration: place, CAE or VAT
Changed activity, CAE or place of work? As a rule, 15 days to tell the Tax Authority (VAT has its own calendar). What triggers it and how to file.
Can't pay the tax? Payment plans (AT and Social Security)
An IRS or Social Security bill bigger than expected isn't the end: you can pay in instalments. How to request it, when it's guarantee-free, and what to avoid.
No-debt certificate (Tax and Social Security)
A tender, a loan or a landlord asks you to prove you have no debts to the State. It's two documents, free and instant. Where to click for each.
How to prove your income as a freelancer
With no payslip, proving what you earn looks hard. It isn't - a set of documents does it. And a common mistake that shuts doors: under-declaring.
The client won't pay: from overdue invoice to injunction
A client who won't pay is a freelancer's nightmare. The steps from reminder to injunction (an enforcement order) - and how to recover the VAT you advanced.
Monthly retainer: how to invoice fixed clients
A client who pays the same every month changes your tax relationship. What a retainer (avença) is, how to invoice it, and the economic-dependence catch.
Advance payments and deposits: how to invoice them
Ask for a deposit before starting? Great for cash flow - but the VAT becomes due the moment you're paid. How to invoice the advance and settle up at the end.
Invoicing in dollars or pounds: rate, VAT and receipt
A foreign client wants to pay in dollars? You can invoice in a foreign currency - but the value counts in euros, and VAT always goes in euros.
ATCUD and QR code: the mandatory codes on your invoices
That odd code and the QR square on the invoice aren't decoration - they're the ATCUD and QR code, required by law. What they are, since when, and what to do.
Certified invoicing software: when it's mandatory
Do you have to buy an invoicing program? Not always - the Portal das Finanças is the AT's free application. When certified software is mandatory.
How much to charge per hour: the formula with taxes in
Charging €20/hour and think it's good? After taxes, costs and unbilled hours, you keep far less. The formula to set the right price - everything included.
I invoice €1,000 a month: how much do I actually keep?
€1,000 invoiced isn't €1,000 in your pocket. See the bites - VAT, withholding, Social Security and income tax - and how much you actually keep.
Advance payments: the IRS the State asks for upfront
The advance payment (pagamento por conta) is category B IRS paid upfront in 3 instalments: what it is, who pays, how it is calculated and how to reduce it.
Anexo SS: the IRS annex freelancers forget
The Anexo SS links your IRS to Social Security and declares your contracting entities. It's what measures your economic dependence - which can require a client of yours to pay a contribution and counts towards the cessation-of-activity benefit. A clear guide.
Lost your clients? The cessation-of-activity benefit hardly anyone knows about
It's the 'unemployment benefit' for economically dependent freelancers: if your main client lets you go, you may be entitled to Social Security support. Who qualifies, how much, and how to claim.
Civil servant with a side activity: when you need authorisation
Are you a civil servant wanting to do some freelance work? As a rule you need authorisation to combine roles. Here's what tends to be authorised, what needs extra care, and what's outright forbidden.
Falsos recibos verdes: how to tell if you're one - and what's at stake
Work fixed hours, at the client's office, invoicing only them? You may be a falso recibo verde - a disguised employee. The presumption of employment (art. 12.º of the Labour Code), the signs, and what to do.
The freelancer's pension: what you'll get for what you pay in today
Tomorrow's pension reflects what you contribute over your career. Always paying the minimum is cheap now and costly at retirement. Here's how a freelancer's pension is built and how a PPR cuts your IRS.
Maternity and paternity on green receipts: the freelancer's parental benefit
Becoming a parent and on green receipts? You're entitled to Social Security's parental benefit. Here's the guarantee period, the choice between 120 and 150 days, and how much sharing the leave changes.
A pensioner on green receipts: combining a pension with freelance work
Retired and want to keep working for yourself? You can - your old-age pension stacks with green receipts and you're exempt from Social Security. But in IRS the two incomes add up. Here's what changes.
Sick leave as a freelancer: the sickness benefit hardly anyone knows about
If you fall ill and can't work, Social Security pays you a sickness benefit - but there's a 10-day waiting period and limits worth knowing beforehand. A guide with deadlines, amounts and duration.
Segurança Social Direta: a map so you don't get lost
The Segurança Social Direta portal is daunting at first. Here's the map of the areas a freelancer actually uses: the quarterly declaration, contributions, current account, contribution record and no-debt certificates.
A student on green receipts: Social Security, IRS and your parents' dependant status
Are you a student about to invoice your first jobs? You can issue green receipts - but it affects Social Security, your own IRS, and your dependant status on your parents' IRS. Here's what changes and what pays off.
I'm on unemployment benefit - can I open a freelance activity?
Yes - use the benefit to your advantage: bring it forward all at once as capital, or only part and keep the rest monthly. The IEFP measure ties you in for 3 years.
Work-accident insurance: the mandatory cover nobody told you about
If you're self-employed, Social Security does NOT cover your work accidents. You need your own insurance, mandatory by law (Law 98/2009). Here's who must have it, what it covers and the risk of going without.
Anexo L (IRS): how to declare your NHR or IFICI
You have NHR or IFICI and the IRS asks for the same income twice? It isn't a bug. Anexo L is where you declare the regime, without replacing the other annexes. Here's how.
Rental income on your IRS: category F or B?
You rent out a flat and don't know if it's category F or B, whether you need to open atividade, what rate you pay or what you can deduct? Here's everything in plain English.
OSS (One-Stop Shop): selling to consumers across the EU
Selling courses, digital products or goods to consumers in the EU? Above €10,000/year you charge the client country's VAT - the OSS does it in one return.
The recapitulative statement: for invoicing EU businesses
Invoicing services to EU businesses with no IVA (reverse charge)? You must also file the recapitulative statement. What it is, who files it, the deadlines.
VAT cash accounting: pay the IVA only when you're paid
Handing the IVA to the state before your client pays? The cash accounting regime flips it: you pay only when you get paid. How it works and who opts in.
CAE vs CIRS Code: The Difference and Your Code by Profession
CAE or the Article 151 code? A table by profession — lawyers, designers, musicians, nurses — the difference between the two and what to do if you pick wrong.
Social Security for Freelancers: What You Pay and Why
In your first year of activity you are fully exempt from Social Security — 12 months at zero. After that, the contribution is 21.4% on 70% of the services provided in the previous quarter.
The art. 9.º VAT exemption: health, teaching, no deduction
Doctors, therapists and tutors are IVA-exempt under art. 9.º - but with no right to deduct. What changes, and the trainer case.
Cash Payments in Portugal: the 4 Legal Limits to Know
How much can you pay - and receive - in cash in Portugal? The 3,000 € cap, the 1,000 € rule for companies, the instalment trick that doesn't work, and the exceptions.
How Much an Lda Costs to Run - Even With Zero Invoicing
Mandatory accountant, director's Social Security, Modelo 22, IES: the real cost of keeping an Lda in 2026 - active or dormant. With numbers.
How to Close an Lda in Portugal: Dissolution and Costs
Closing a company costs from 255 € and, with no assets or debts, is done in a single act. The process, the final tax deadlines, and closing-vs-keeping maths.
How to Open an Lda in Portugal: Step-by-Step Online
Registering an Lda costs from €220 and the application is done online in an afternoon. The guide: decisions to make first, Empresa Online, and the deadlines after.
Opening a Company in Portugal as a Foreigner: 3 Routes
You don't need a Portuguese passport to own a Portuguese company. You need a NIF, a valid way to sign - and to know which of the three routes is yours.
RCBE: Portugal's Beneficial Owner Register, Explained
The obligation almost nobody knows about until the bank asks for the certificate: RCBE deadlines, how to declare for free in minutes, and the sanctions.
Recibos Verdes or Lda: When Is It Worth Opening a Company?
Open an Lda to pay less tax? Compare IRS, IRC, Social Security and fixed costs in 2026 - with real numbers and the signs that it's time to switch.
The Sócio-Gerente: Salary, Social Security and Liability
What a Lda director contributes in 2026: the 34.75%, the 1 IAS minimum base, when you pay nothing - and the personal liability that comes with the role.
The Unipessoal Lda: What It Is and Who It's For
Portugal's single-member company explained: its special rules, what doesn't change versus a normal Lda, and the fiscal transparency trap that changes the maths.
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.
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.
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.
What's new in FIZ — May 2026
The big one is here: filing your IRS return straight through FIZ. Plus bookkeeping opened to everyone, FIZ in six languages, and working documents alongside your invoices.
Housing Tax Shock: What Changes for You in 2026
Construction VAT to 6%, rental income tax to 10%, tenant deductions rise: the key changes in Portugal's 2026 housing tax package for freelancers.
What's new in FIZ — April 2026
Your customers can now pay by Multibanco and ifthenpay, with the reference printed straight onto the invoice PDF. You can also issue transport documents and report them to the AT, plus a new alert when one client takes up too much of your turnover.
I Exceeded the €15,000 VAT Threshold Mid-Year. What Now?
You were VAT-exempt and suddenly realised you've crossed €15,000. Don't panic — here's exactly what to do, step by step.
Multiple CAE Codes at Once: the Designer Who Also Teaches
Do you have more than one activity? You can hold multiple CAE codes simultaneously. What changes, what stays the same, and why the income tax coefficients matter.
Can You Deduct VAT on Business Expenses? Yes — and You're Probably Leaving Money on the Table
If you invoice over €15,000/year and charge VAT, the VAT you pay on professional expenses reduces what you owe the state. Most freelancers don't know this.
How to Suspend or Close Your Freelance Activity in Portugal
Work slowed down and you want to close your activity temporarily? Or for good? The process is simple — and yes, you can always reopen.
Working a Job and Freelancing at the Same Time: How It Works in Portugal
Have a job and want to take on side projects? It's legal, it's common in Portugal, and it's simpler than you think. Here's everything you need to know.
Recibo Verde or Fatura — What's Actually the Difference?
Most freelancers use the words interchangeably. In practice it usually works — but legally there are differences that can matter when it counts.
Withholding Tax (Retenção na Fonte): What It Is and How It Works
You invoiced €1,000 and the client paid €770. No mistake. It's withholding tax — an advance payment of your IRS that the company sends directly to the tax authority. Here's what it is, the rates (23% and 11.5%) and how it appears on your recibo verde.
Subcontracting Between Freelancers: How to Hire Help and Deduct It as an Expense
Need help with a project? You can hire another freelancer. Their receipt is your expense — straightforward, legal, and deductible.
How to Ask Your European Client for Their VAT Number (and Avoid Unnecessary VAT)
If you provide B2B services to EU companies, you need their EU VAT number. Without it, you must charge Portuguese VAT. With it, reverse charge applies.
Issued a Wrong Recibo Verde? A Nota de Crédito Fixes It in 5 Minutes
Wrong amount, wrong VAT rate, a cancelled job — it happens to everyone. The good news: there's a simple legal mechanism that cancels the mistake in minutes.
Log Your Expenses in FIZ and Pay Less Tax
In the simplified regime, you can deduct real expenses instead of the automatic 75% coefficient. FIZ helps you track everything and know when it's worth it.
How FIZ Submits Your Quarterly VAT Declaration Automatically
The VAT declaration comes four times a year. With FIZ it's automatic — it calculates, fills in, and submits without you having to do anything.
Freelance Freedom Begins Not with a Client — But with a NIF and a Recibo Verde
Everyone talks about the first client as the moment freedom begins. But those who've been through it know the real beginning is something else entirely.
How FIZ Calculates and Submits Your Quarterly Social Security Declaration
The quarterly SS declaration can take 2-3 hours manually. With FIZ it takes 10 minutes — and with the Auto plan you don't need to do anything.
Working with EU Clients? FIZ Handles the Recapitulative Declaration for You
In the standard VAT regime, invoicing companies in other EU countries means filing a recapitulative declaration. Most freelancers don't know this. FIZ does it automatically.
Fatura Simplificada: When You Can Invoice Without the Client's NIF
The client left without giving their NIF. There's a perfectly legal solution — with three conditions you need to check before using it.
The FIZ Dashboard: Your Finances at a Glance
Monthly billing, accumulated VAT, income tax forecast, next deadline — all on one screen. So you always know where you stand, without opening a spreadsheet.
Foreigner in Portugal: How to Open an Atividade Without Being a Citizen
Moved to Portugal and want to freelance? The process is the same for everyone — but it starts with the NIF. Includes NIF for digital nomads. Here is the complete roadmap.
From Fear to Boredom: How Accounting Goes From Monster to Routine
The first quarterly declaration took me 47 minutes. The fifth took 11. My skills didn't change — my familiarity did. That's how it works.
Which Document to Issue to Each Client? The Definitive Guide Without the Fuss
Fatura, fatura-recibo or recibo? The moment of payment decides the document. The client decides the rest: withholding, VAT and the recapitulativa.
A Day in the Life of a Freelancer Who Isn't Afraid of Accounting
Ana spends 12 minutes a day on accounting. It used to be 2 hours. A typical day that shows how tax admin can become completely invisible.
Laptop Tax Deduction in Portugal: How to Deduct (and Depreciate) Equipment
Is a laptop tax deductible? Under €1,000 you deduct it in full in the year of purchase; over €1,000 depreciation applies (typically 25%/year over 4 years). Here are the exact rules for laptops, phones and cameras.
Home Office: How to Deduct Housing Expenses from Your Tax Return
Working from home? Part of your housing costs are deductible. The rule is simple: calculate your workspace proportion and apply it to your monthly bills.
Accounting Isn't the State Controlling You. It's You Controlling Your Business.
There's a shift in perspective that transforms your relationship with accounting: realising that tax numbers aren't a reporting obligation — they're your control panel.
I Hired an Accountant From Day One. It Was a Mistake.
I paid €150 a month for nearly a year for something I could have done in 15 minutes. Here's what I learnt — and when an accountant actually makes sense.
When I Realised Accounting Was About Money In My Pocket, the Fear Disappeared
There was a mental block that stopped me facing the numbers. It vanished when I understood that every minute I spent on accounting was working in my favour.
Coefficient 0.75 vs 0.35: The Difference That Could Save You Thousands a Year
In the simplified regime, the state estimates your expenses without requiring receipts. The coefficient determines what portion of your income is taxable — and the difference between 0.75 and 0.35 can be enormous.
How to Receive Payments as a Freelancer: Bank Transfer, MB Way, PayPal and the Rest
Bank transfer, MB Way, PayPal, Wise, cash — all are legal. What truly matters is always issuing an invoice. Full guide with the rules and limits.
The Client Wants to Pay Without a Receipt? How to Handle This Situation
A situation every freelancer has faced. The client suggests paying cash, no paperwork. How to respond professionally — and protect yourself.
Five Stories of People Who Conquered Their Fear of Accounting
Nobody is born knowing how to fill in tax returns. These five real stories show how ordinary people went from total panic to a 15-minute monthly routine.
Letter to My Past Self: What I Wish I'd Known About Accounting Before Starting
An honest letter for anyone about to open their freelance activity — with everything my three-years-ago self needed to hear but nobody told me.
I Have Several Clients with Different Conditions — How Do I Keep Track?
Client with withholding tax, client without withholding, foreign client. For each: how to issue the invoice, what to select, and what gets recorded. Summary table included.
Late VAT Declaration? Here's How to Fix It Right Now
Missed the quarterly VAT deadline? Don't panic. A step-by-step guide to sorting it out, understanding the fine, and making sure it never happens again.
Recibo Verde: 5 Fields, 2 Minutes, Done
Issuing a recibo verde takes 5 fields: client NIF, amount, description, withholding, and VAT. Then the system reports everything to the tax authority automatically. It really is that simple.
Your First 90 Days as a Freelancer in Portugal: The No-Panic Calendar
Week by week, what to do in your first 90 days as an independent worker — with realistic timings. Total bureaucracy: around 2 hours. The rest is for working.
Got a Letter from the Tax Authority: How Not to Panic
That white envelope from the AT isn't necessarily bad news. Understand the 4 types of letters you might receive and exactly what to do with each one.
How Much Does an Accountant Cost in Portugal — and When Is It Worth It
Real market rates for certified accountants in Portugal, when it makes financial sense to hire one, and how a hybrid model can give you professional coverage at half the cost.
Your First Recibo Verde: From Total Confusion to «That Was It?»
Step by step for issuing your first recibo verde — no fear of making mistakes, with real examples for VAT-exempt freelancers and withholding tax. Simpler than it looks.
Portugal Finance Portal: A Map So You Never Get Lost Again
A guided tour of the Portal das Finanças, section by section. Where to file declarations, where to pay, where to check your fiscal status. After this, the portal stops being a maze.
The Complete Freelancer Glossary: 15 Words You Need to Know
NIF, IVA, coeficiente, retenção na fonte — the full vocabulary of Portuguese freelancer finances explained simply. 15 terms, no jargon.
What a Fiscal Platform Does for You (and What You Still Need to Do)
What a modern fiscal platform handles automatically and what remains your responsibility. A clear guide for freelancers on the simplified regime.
What Happens If You Make a Tax Mistake? Spoiler: The World Doesn't End
Tax mistakes happen. Here's how Portugal's notification system actually works and what to do when you get something wrong.
What If You Simply Do Nothing? What Actually Happens
Working without opening activity, not issuing invoices, not paying Social Security — for each scenario, the real and concrete consequences. Acting now is far simpler.
No accountant needed on the simplified regime
The law is clear: below €200,000 in annual turnover, you are not required to have a certified accountant. But many freelancers keep paying for a service they don't need.
Quarterly VAT Return in Portugal: A Guide for First-Timers
Where to find the form, what each field means, where the numbers come from. Your first periodic VAT declaration on the Finance Portal takes 20 minutes.
VAT: The Three Letters That Will Stop Scaring You in 5 Minutes
VAT seems complicated until you understand how it works. If you invoice under €15,000 a year, you don't charge VAT at all. If you invoice more, you're just the middleman.
VAT: Where It Comes From, Where It Goes, and Why It Is Not Your Money
The VAT you charge clients is never yours. Understand how the VAT chain works, the quarterly declaration deadlines, and what happens when you cross the €15,000 threshold.
IRS for Freelancers: How Much Will You Actually Pay?
In the simplified regime you only pay income tax on 75% of what you invoice — not on everything. Understand how the coefficient works, progressive brackets, and when to file your annual declaration.
How to Store Documents and Invoices to Avoid Problems with the Tax Authority
How long to keep documents (4 years for most), what counts as a tax document, whether a digital copy is enough, and what happens if you cannot produce them during an audit.
E-fatura: The State Sees Everything — and That Is Good for You
The e-fatura system automatically records every invoice linked to your NIF. Far from being a threat, it is your best protection: your IRS return is pre-filled and you have proof you work legally.
Forgot to Issue an Invoice. Now What?
The client already paid but you forgot to issue the invoice? You can — and should — issue it today. Here's what to do, what the consequences are, and how to prevent it happening again.
The Portuguese Tax Authority: Not the Monster You Think It Is
The Finance Portal has 4 main sections. The tax authority has phone support and a chat service. They want you to work legally. A no-nonsense guide to stop fearing the Finanças.
All your accounting in one phone app
What does a freelancer's day actually look like with an accounting app in their pocket? Invoice in 30 seconds, expenses with a photo, declarations via notification.
Annual IRS Declaration: How to File Without Losing Your Mind
Practical guide for independent workers on the simplified regime: what is already pre-filled automatically, what you need to confirm, and how it can result in a refund.
Your Entire Accounting? 15 Minutes a Month. Seriously.
What a freelancer on the simplified regime actually does — issue invoices, log expenses, file VAT, file IRS. Stopwatch in hand: it does not go beyond 15 minutes a month.
How technology eliminated 80% of freelancer tax admin
In 2010, going freelance meant stacks of paper and constant dread. In 2026, your phone handles almost everything. What changed — and why the fear no longer makes sense.
Open Your Freelance Activity in Portugal: Step by Step
Opening your activity takes about 20 minutes online. Step by step on the Finance Portal: CAE, simplified regime, the VAT trap, and when you don't need to.
Foreign Client: How to Invoice and What to Do with VAT
German company, Brazilian individual, American startup — for each case: whether to charge VAT, what to write on the invoice, and whether you can invoice in euros or another currency.
10 Mistakes Every Freelancer Makes in Their First Year (and How to Avoid Them)
From not issuing invoices on time to mixing up gross and net — the classic first-year mistakes and how not to repeat them.
I Opened My Freelance Activity and Survived: A First-Month Chronicle
Pedro's real first month as a freelancer in Portugal — opening his activity in 5 minutes and spending under an hour on admin for the entire month.
Ato Isolado: How to Invoice Legally Without Opening a Business Activity
Have a one-off piece of work and do not want the full freelance setup? The ato isolado lets you invoice legally without any bureaucracy. Here is when it works and when to open activity instead.
7 Expenses You Already Pay and Can Deduct from Your IRS
Internet, laptop, software, coworking, training - all of this reduces your IRS bill. The trick? Request an invoice with your NIF and validate it in the e-invoice system. The average freelancer saves €500-1,500/year.
My Friend Switched From Salary to Freelance and Pays Less Tax
Gross salary €1,500: the company pays €1,850 total, you take home €1,100. The same amount as a freelancer on the simplified regime? You keep more. The real numbers.
How Much Does It Cost to Be a Freelancer in Portugal: The Real Numbers
Year one: zero Social Security, the IRS coefficient cut in half (if eligible), VAT only above €15,000. Real numbers, with examples at €1,000-3,000/month.
Avoid an April Tax Shock: Plan Your Taxes All Year Long
Maria invoiced €18,000 and spent it all. In April she owed €3,200. The rule that prevents this: set aside 20-25% of every invoice - no surprises, no loans.
Taxes Like a Netflix Subscription: Pay and Forget
You know exactly what you pay for Netflix. But how much are you paying in taxes and Social Security this month? The analogy that changes how you see your tax obligations as a freelancer.
The Thresholds That Change Everything: €15,000 and €200,000
Two numbers every independent worker needs to know. Below €15,000 you don't charge VAT. Above €200,000 you leave the simplified regime. What changes at each threshold - explained with real examples.
Accounting isn't for geniuses. It's for everyone.
Think you're bad with numbers? Sofia paid €200/month to an accountant until she discovered that freelancer accounting is simpler than baking a yogurt cake.
What's new in FIZ — March 2026
The AI Tax Assistant took a big leap: answers built on your own data, tables and file attachments. Plus the new Finances section and custom invoice series.
Is the Tax Authority Auditing Freelancers? What They Look For and How to Protect Yourself
If you're a freelancer worried about a tax audit, read this first. The reality is very different from what you imagine - and there are simple ways to protect yourself.
Why the Government Sends You Money in May (and How to Make Sure You Get Yours)
May is the month when many freelancers receive a surprise transfer from the government. It's not a mistake - it's your IRS refund. Here's how to maximise it.
Can You Deduct the VAT You Pay on Your Expenses? Yes - Let Me Explain How
Rita left over €3,000 on the table by not knowing she could deduct VAT on professional expenses. Learn how it works and how much you can save.
You've Been Putting Off Starting 'Until Monday' for 2 Years. Here's What It's Costing You
Every month you delay going freelance costs between €1,000 and €3,000. Do the maths with real examples and discover the true price of fear.
You Already Know Accounting - You Just Don't Know the Names
Discover that you already do accounting every day without realizing it. 7 everyday actions that are actually accounting operations and their proper names.
5 Things That Scare You About Accounting - And Why None of Them Are That Bad
The 5 biggest fears freelancers have about accounting, debunked. Fines, formulas, inspections - discover why nothing is as scary as it seems.
I Was 28, Wanted to Go Freelance - And the Word Accounting Stopped Me for 2 Years
A real story about how the fear of accounting delayed the start of an independent career. The 5 truths nobody tells you about starting as a freelancer in Portugal.
'I Need to Understand Taxes First' - And Other Excuses Stopping You From Starting
The 4 big excuses that stop aspiring freelancers from registering their activity. Discover why they're nonsense and what you really need to know before starting.
Why Smart People Fear Accounting - And It's Not Their Fault
You have a master's degree and speak three languages, but the quarterly VAT declaration gives you panic? Discover why the fear of accounting is rational - and how to overcome it.
What's new in FIZ — February 2026
A tax calendar with every deadline in one place, a step-by-step wizard for your first invoice, and signing in with Google. Everything we shipped in February.
What's new in FIZ — January 2026
Automatic expense categorisation, importing from the Finanças Portal, a step-by-step AT connection and custom customer fields. Everything we shipped in January.
What's new in FIZ — December 2025
The EC Sales List (Recapitulativa) for EU sales, credit notes in your VAT return, the Article 53 alert, the customer page and 2FA for Social Security. Everything we shipped in December.
What's new in FIZ — November 2025
AI Tax Assistant, card payments, the referral programme, expenses in your VAT return and Open Banking in the app. Everything we shipped in November.