HVR Business Consulting provides English-speaking accounting for foreign freelancers in Portugal from €75/month — activity opening, quarterly Social Security declarations, VAT and the annual IRS return handled for you. In the simplified regime the professions in the art. 151 CIRS table are taxed on 75% of income and other services on 35%, Social Security is 21.4% with a 12-month first-year exemption, and VAT is exempt below €15,000/year (Article 53). IFICI support (special 20% rate on net qualifying income) is quoted separately. IFICI deadline: 15 January.

By Hugo Ribeiro, Certified Accountant OCC no. 64356 · HVR Business Consulting · July 2026

Why foreign freelancers hire an accountant in Portugal

You arrived on a D8 visa or as an EU citizen, you invoice clients abroad, and now you face Portal das Finanças — in Portuguese, with quarterly deadlines and framing decisions made on day one that follow you for years. The three mistakes we correct most often for new clients: the wrong Article 151 activity code (which changes your taxable coefficient), the wrong VAT framing at activity opening, and missed first-quarter Social Security declarations.

Still researching how the system works? Start with our Freelancers in Portugal — 2026 pillar guide. This page is for the next step: handing the compliance to an accountant who answers in English.

What HVR handles for you

• Activity opening (início de atividade) — correct CIRS Article 151 code, VAT framing and estimated income
• Invoicing setup — recibos verdes / faturas-recibo on Portal das Finanças, including foreign-client rules
• Quarterly Social Security declarations — due the last day of January, April, July and October
• VAT returns — quarterly, if you are outside the Article 53 exemption
• Annual IRS return (Modelo 3, Annex B) — filed April–June
• IFICI application and annual compliance — see packages below

Your freelancer tax setup at a glance (2026)

VAT: how the Article 53 exemption works in 2026

Freelancers with annual Portuguese turnover up to €15,000 can invoice without charging VAT under Article 53 CIVA. Decree-Law 35/2025 (in force since 1 July 2025) rewrote the regime, and having organised accounts no longer disqualifies you. The exit rules now have two speeds:

• Turnover between €15,000 and €18,750: you move to the normal VAT regime on 1 January of the following year
• Turnover above €18,750: the exemption ends immediately — the invoice that crosses the line already carries VAT, and a change declaration is due within 15 working days

A new EU cross-border extension also lets you use small-business exemptions in other member states if your EU-wide turnover stays under €100,000, with an "EX"-suffixed VAT number and quarterly reporting. HVR monitors your running turnover so the €18,750 cliff never surprises you.

IFICI: the 20% flat rate for new residents

IFICI (EBF Article 58-A, created by Law 82/2023 and regulated by Portarias 352/2024 and 52-A/2025) taxes eligible Portuguese employment and self-employment income at a flat 20% for 10 years. You qualify if you become tax resident, were not resident in the previous 5 years, and your profession is on the eligible lists. The deadline is 15 January of the year after you become resident — miss it and the year is lost. Note: foreign pensions are not exempt under IFICI. Full details on our IFICI guide and IFICI advisory service.

What it costs

Try the numbers yourself with the green receipts simulator or compare structures with the freelancer vs company simulator.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an accountant cost for a freelancer in Portugal?

From €75 per month at HVR, depending on VAT regime and invoice volume — there is no fixed ceiling, the fee follows invoice volume and tax complexity. A standalone annual IRS return with self-employment income starts at €120 + VAT; IFICI support is quoted separately.

Do I need an accountant to open freelance activity?

Legally no under the simplified regime — but the activity code, VAT framing and estimated income set at opening follow you for years. HVR includes a correct opening in onboarding on all monthly plans.

When do I pay Social Security?

21.4% (Article 168(1) of the Contributory Code) on a monthly base equal to one third of the relevant income of the quarter (Article 163(1)) — relevant income being 70% of the services invoiced (Article 162) — declared by the last day of January, April, July and October. First-time freelancers are exempt for the first 12 months.

Do I charge VAT to foreign clients?

B2B services to businesses outside Portugal generally carry no Portuguese VAT (reverse charge). Domestically you are exempt below €15,000/year; above €18,750 the exemption ends immediately mid-year.

Can freelancers get IFICI?

Yes — if newly resident, not Portuguese-resident in the previous 5 years, and working in an eligible profession (Portarias 352/2024 and 52-A/2025). Apply by 15 January.