How Much Does an Accountant Cost in Portugal in 2026?
In 2026, an accountant in Portugal costs between EUR 60 and EUR 500 a month depending on the type of client. Freelancers taxed under category B of the personal income tax pay between EUR 60 and EUR 150 a month. Companies keeping full statutory accounts pay between EUR 150 and EUR 500 a month. The price depends on document volume, headcount, tax regime and the scope of services included.
Accounting fees in Portugal 2026 — price table
| Type of client | Tax regime | Average price/month | What is included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer / sole trader | Simplified (personal income tax, category B) | EUR 60 – 120 | VAT, annual return, basic bookkeeping |
| Freelancer / sole trader, higher turnover | Full statutory accounting | EUR 120 – 200 | SAF-T, VAT, full personal return, trial balance |
| Single-member Lda | Full statutory accounting | EUR 120 – 250 | VAT, corporate tax (Modelo 22), IES, SAF-T, monthly trial balances |
| SME (turnover up to EUR 650,000) | Full statutory accounting | EUR 200 – 500 | All filings, plus support during inspections and reporting |
| Company with a statutory auditor | Full statutory accounting + audit | EUR 500 – 1,500+ | Full accounting, IFRS where applicable, liaison with the auditor |
| Short-term rental (AL) | Varies | EUR 90 – 200 | VAT, form Modelo 30 (withholding), category F personal return |
| Real estate / SPV | Full statutory accounting | EUR 150 – 400 | Corporate tax, property transfer tax, AIMI, VAT as applicable |
Indicative prices for the Portuguese market in 2026. Figures exclude VAT and payroll processing.
What the price covers — and what costs extra
Normally included
- Bookkeeping of invoices issued and receipts
- Monthly filing of the invoicing SAF-T file
- Periodic VAT returns
- Annual corporate tax return (Modelo 22) and IES
- Monthly or quarterly trial balances
- Answers to day-to-day tax questions, by email or telephone
- Registration and representation before the tax authority
Normally charged separately
- Payroll processing — EUR 15 to EUR 25 per employee per month (payslip, monthly remuneration return, social security)
- Advanced tax consulting — RFAI, SIFIDE, ICE, restructuring: hourly (EUR 80 to EUR 150/h) or by project
- Support during a tax inspection — hourly or a fixed fee per case
- Management reporting — profit and loss by cost centre, KPIs, dashboards
- Occasional filings — forms Modelo 30, Modelo 39, DPC, stock SAF-T
- Real estate advice — property transfer tax, AIMI and VAT analysis, SPVs, property funds
Seven things that drive the price
- Document volume — how many invoices a month, across purchases, sales and expenses
- Headcount — every additional payslip is a marginal cost
- VAT regime — monthly is more demanding than quarterly
- Sector — real estate, short-term rental, healthcare and construction each have their own rules
- Cross-border transactions — intra-EU, reverse charge, transfer pricing
- Level of advice — a reactive bookkeeper against a proactive partner
- Expected response time — 48h, 24h, or immediate
Why some accountants charge EUR 50 a month
The Portuguese market has offers below EUR 80 a month. As a rule these cover the legal minimum and nothing more, which means:
- Long response times (5 to 10 days)
- No dedicated accountant — portfolios of 200+ clients per accountant
- No proactive tax planning
- No support with shareholders’ personal returns or special withholding
- No access to modern invoicing software or client portals
For a trading SME, a single VAT error from a misclassified invoice, or one lost deduction (an RFAI credit not applied, a SIFIDE claim not made), more than covers the difference between EUR 80 and EUR 250 a month.
How to choose — five criteria
- Active OCC registration — verifiable at occ.pt; every Chartered Accountant has a registration number
- Experience in your sector — real estate, hospitality, start-ups and healthcare each have their own rules
- A clear scope — a written proposal setting out what is and is not included
- A committed average response time — 24h or 48h? By email or telephone?
- Digital tools — client portal, certified invoicing software, bank feeds
HVR prices 2026
- Accounting for freelancers — from EUR 75/month
- Accounting for a single-member Lda — from EUR 150/month
- Accounting for SMEs — from EUR 200/month
- Advanced tax consulting — by project or by the hour
- Company set-up — from EUR 750 (see Business Start-up Consulting)
Every HVR proposal includes a dedicated Chartered Accountant, a 24-hour response time, a 24/7 online portal and TOCONLINE invoicing software.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an accountant cost in Portugal in 2026?
Between EUR 60 and EUR 500 a month, depending on the type of client and the tax regime. Freelancers on the simplified regime pay less; SMEs keeping full statutory accounts pay more.
Does the accounting fee include payroll?
Usually not. Payroll is extra, typically EUR 15 to EUR 25 per employee per month.
Is the simplified regime cheaper?
Yes, typically EUR 60 to EUR 120 a month. But the choice of regime should be driven by the tax outcome first, not by the fee.
Why are some accountants EUR 50 a month?
They generally cover only the minimum filing obligations, with no advice, no dedicated accountant and long response times.
Is it worth changing accountant on price alone?
The annual difference between EUR 150 and EUR 250 a month is EUR 1,200. A single tax error pays that difference. Judge price alongside scope and quality.
Which filings are included in the price?
Usually: SAF-T, VAT, corporate tax and Modelo 22, IES, trial balances and answers to tax questions. Inspections, advanced consulting and custom reporting are extras.