11 Wednesday Nov 2020
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The Banco de Portugal wants companies and shops to accept at least one form of electronic payment in addition to cash. With cash increasingly in decline, the covid-19 pandemic has only accelerated the digitalization of transactions, thereby increasing online consumption and the use of contactless payments.
12 Monday Oct 2020
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≈ Comments Off on FAQ’s: Freelancers and the Simplified Regime
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Sole Trader Start-up
Many foreign residents plan to open a small business when they move to Portugal. Regardless of your interest or motivation, it is essential to understand the basic requirements in Portugal before launching and conducting your new business activity. The following FAQ’s will help you get off to a good start while better serving your clients throughout the EU and beyond.
What is the difference between Standard Accounting and the Simplified Regime?
“Standard Accounting” refers to the traditional system of accounting that calculates taxable profits from the net difference between income and expenses. This method requires professional accounting services (“TOC”). Under the “Simplified Regime”, taxable income is calculated as a percentage of invoiced income (from the total of “electronic green receipts”) and is usually self-administered.
Do most self-employed go automatically into the Simplified Regime?
Yes, but not all. The Simplified Regime is designed for smaller businesses. To qualify, your gross invoiced income must not exceed €200 000.
What happens if my income exceeds this limit?
On a one-time basis, you may surpass this threshold by 25%. If repeated, the “AT” will switch you automatically to Standard Accounting (“Contabilidade organizada”). Subsequently, a Chartered Accountant must do regular reporting.
Initially, I opted for Standard Accounting but now realise that the Simplified Regime should be more advantageous. Can I switch?
Yes, taxpayers may switch in the following fiscal year if they so wish.
I only had €1,500 of income from a sideline business. How should I report?
When freelance income constitutes less than one half of an individual’s declarable income, it may be treated as an “Isolated Act” and follow standard accounting rules. No “TOC” is required.
How do I calculate my taxable income?
The calculation for determining taxable income is as follows:
Category B Expanded Simplified Regime Base
Sales of goods and services; Activities related to tourism 15%
Liberal Profession business activities (profissões liberais) 75%
Other income from services 35%
Royalties, know-how, other income in connection with
activity; Rental income not declared in Category F 95%
Non-business-related subsidies 30%
Business related subsidies; Other income not listed 10%
This income is added to other sources (aggregation) to determine your final rate of taxation.
Is it true that there is a minimum tax?
No. While one used to exist, the minimum tax was abolished in 2010.
When do I have to charge “IVA” to my clients?
“IVA” (Valued Added Tax) requirements are the same under both methods. Once income exceeds €12,500, regular IVA collection and reporting is mandatory, either on a quarterly or monthly basis, depending on turnover.
Do I have to make contributions to Social Security?
Beginning in the first year of business activity, you are entitled to a 50% discount. In year two, the adjustment reduces to 25% and disappears altogether in the 3rd year and beyond, based on monthly payments to Social Security at the rate of 21% of your taxable income.
If your business activity is Local Lodging (“Alojamento Local”), you are exempt from Social Security contributions on this income.
If you already contribute to Social Security in another country or receive Social Security benefits, you can request exemption from paying again in Portugal. Alternatively, you may be eligible for reduced contributions.
“Início de Actividade” (Business Registration)
Formal registration of your business activity with Finanças is the first step to detail all required information about yourself and your planned endeavour.
“Recibos Verdes Electrónicos” (Electronic Green Receipts)
Freelancers may no longer buy books of Green Receipts and must file invoices electronically via Internet. Be careful to use the correct procedures within the duly designated time periods as there are fines if deadlines are not met.
Social Security
Freelancers must register with Social Security (National Insurance) and make monthly payments in the beginning of the second year of business activity. Services as well as Sales and Production currently contribute 21%. If you receive Social Security benefits or are already contributing to Social Security in another country, you may be eligible for exemption from contributions in Portugal.
National Health Coverage
As a freelancer, you will be eligible to apply for your “Cartão de Utente” (National Health Card). You, your spouse, and dependent children will be covered. With this registration, you will gain access to local Health Centres and Regional Hospitals. The card also entitles you to reductions on medication and prescriptions at local pharmacies.
“IVA” (VAT)
Unless your income or activity exempts you from collecting “IVA” (freelance income under €12,500 pa), quarterly submissions need to be filed. Unfortunately, only Portuguese-language applications are available. If you invoice primarily outside of Portugal to other countries in the EU and beyond, this reporting could entitle you to a refund for “IVA” paid on business expenses Portugal.
23 Wednesday Sep 2020
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≈ Comments Off on VISA D2 for a Sole Trader or Investor
The request for a Residence Visa to exercise an independent professional activity or to become an immigrant investor (visa D2) is normally issued to the applicant in his country of residence through the Portuguese Embassy or Consulate. Once application has been made, the deadline for the decision is usually 60 days, starting from the day of submission of the application with all substantiating documentation. This period may vary depending on the country of origin. Continue reading
03 Thursday Sep 2020
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Under the final version of the 2020 State Budget, pensions will no longer enjoy full exemption from taxation in Portugal. Instead, pensions will be subject to a flat tax of 10%. A minimum levy of €7,500 had been proposed, but this measure was eliminated in the final version of the Budget.
17 Monday Aug 2020
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≈ Comments Off on US Expats: Travelling with your pet
by Suzana Horta Greene
Are you planning to fly with your pet to Portugal? TAP and some other airlines welcome dogs to travel in the cabin or the hold, as long as the owner provides valid documentation and the pet carrier is deemed safe.
Ticket: Regardless of the status of your dog, you must book your ticket with the airline directly (over the phone). You cannot purchase the animal’s ticket separately. If you are travelling with a Service Dog, you will have to provide a completed form from your personal physician that will be emailed to the airline prior to departure subject to approval. (Due to respiratory issues, flat-faced dogs are not permitted to fly).
Veterinary/USDA: You must book an appointment with your vet. They will facilitate the paperwork to be sent overnight to the USDA for approval. You will have to get a money order for USDA payment and include an overnight FedEx return envelope.
Carrier: You must have an airline-approved carrier, regardless of the status of your dog.
Customs: You will have to book an appointment with the custom’s vet in advance of arrival at Lisbon Airport. There will be a €40 fee.
We do not recommend procuring Emotional Support Animal (ESA) or Service Dog (SA) status if you intend to travel only once. The airline may prove difficult. You will have to pay for the certification and physician’s sign-off which is similar to the cost of the pet’s plane ticket.
Service Dog status: As there is no accredited entity that supervises Service Dog certification, this status will not be recognized in the EU. Furthermore, there is no legislation that covers ESA so the airline might still charge for the ticket. That said, you can always travel with your dog in the cabin (if the dog falls under the airline weight limit).
Note: To be able to have the dog travel outside of the carrier, it must have the appropriate training (be able to remain calm for the duration of the travel – no barking, no peeing, etc).
Covid-19 restrictions
Currently, US nationals are not able to travel to Portugal simply on a US passport. If you are able to procure an exemption, you will not be allowed to travel with a pet in the hold (in-cabin only, in accordance with weight restrictions). Once the present travel ban is lifted, so will these limitations. If your pet is over the weight limit, it can be transported in the hold.
Advice on pet well-being
Suzana Horta Greene is a dual US/PT national and flies frequently with her dog.
17 Monday Aug 2020
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≈ Comments Off on US Expats: Tax basics when living abroad
Tax planning is an essential part of preparing to move abroad. You will continue to have reporting obligations and possible tax liabilities in the States based on your US nationality, in addition to the new requirements founded on fiscal residency in Portugal. As always, the IRS applies harsh penalties for non-compliance. The following is an overview of some of the basics for expats on federal and state taxes as well as estimated payments, penalties and interest. Fortunately, there is a bilateral tax treaty designed to protect you from double taxation. The accord can be used to mitigate or even eliminate assessment in the States while taking advantage of Portugal’s most favorable tax breaks,
Filing a Federal US Tax Return
All US citizens are required to complete an annual return when they live overseas. Other reporting requirements apply to US nationals as well, including FBAR (Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts) and FATCA (the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act), that are triggered by meeting thresholds in foreign bank accounts and asset holdings.
Filing a State Tax Return
State income tax can also be a problem. Whether you need to file a state tax return depends on the last state where you lived. Some states have more complex residency rules than others, which means that these states may continue to consider you as a resident if in the state you own a property, possess a driver’s license, have bank accounts or an investment portfolio, are a registered voter, keep a mailing address, or have dependents who live in that state.
If you meet these criteria, you may need to submit a state tax return and pay state taxes even if you were absent during the fiscal year. Four of the more sticky states are California, New Mexico, South Carolina and Virginia. On the other hand, seven states charge no state tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington State and Wyoming.
Most of the other states only require a state tax return when you were actually present in that state during the tax year. If you were, income tax is only due on earnings within the state. Because of the variability in different state requirements, you should confirm your own individual circumstances.
Closing or moving bank accounts, selling a property or changing your driver’s license to another state be steps that can help to sever the ties in your former state of residence.
Estimated Tax Payments
The IRS requires taxpayers to make quarterly estimated tax payments if the following conditions apply:
If you must make estimated payments, the reporting schedule is as follows:
Payment Period Due Date
January 1 – March 31 April 15, 2019
April 1 – May 31 June 17, 2019
June 1 – August 31 September 16, 2019
September 1 – December 31 January 15, 2020
You will not have to make the 4th quarter payment if you file by January 31 and pay the outstanding balance with your tax return.
Penalties
Two types of sanctions can be charged against expats who fail to pay their estimated taxes: “failure-to-pay” and “failure-to-file”. Submitting your federal tax return after the extended deadline can lead to a punitive “failure-to-file” penalty: 5% each month on the unpaid balance.
This charge is ten times the “failure-to-pay” fine. However, penalties are not allowed to exceed 25% of your total tax bill. If you are unable to pay all your taxes when due, reporting by the deadline is always preferable.
The “failure-to-pay” penalty is less severe: 0.5% monthly of the unpaid balance. “Failure-to-pay” fines begin to accrue on the day after the assessment is due. If you owe both penalties in one month, the maximum cumulative penalty in any given month is capped at 5%.
On the positive side, taxpayers living abroad get an automatic two-month filing extension. Nevertheless, keep in mind that a filing extension is not an extension on paying outstanding taxes.
24 Friday Jul 2020
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Portuguese resorts are considered to be the best in Europe among 26 residential tourism developments in 9 countries. According to 54 criteria in 10 categories, Portuguese holiday retreats ranked nº 1. There are many forms of tourism: recreation and leisure, healthcare, curative spa, cultural, educational, social.
20 Monday Jul 2020
Posted in Articles
≈ Comments Off on “NHR” under pressure in France and Portugal
Beneficiaries of retirement pensions from French sources (excluding public sector retirees) who settled in Portugal before 01 April 2020 may benefit from the Non-Habitual Resident scheme, an attractive tax-free regime for a period of 10 years. This favourable assessment results from a combined application of the double tax treaty concluded between France and Portugal and the “Non-Habitual Resident” tax regime (“NHR”), established by the Portuguese legislator in 2009.
Other Tax Authorities in the European Union are concerned by this situation which they consider to be the subject of aggressive tax competition on the part of Portugal. These criticisms have led to regime changes recently introduced by the 2020 State Budget.
In France, the Tax Authority has expressed its intention to monitor these taxpayers closely. In particular, it considers that a taxpayer who pays no tax in Portugal cannot be classified as a Portuguese fiscal resident within the context of the bilateral tax treaty and therefore cannot benefit from the protection of this agreement. The French Tax Authority intends to rule out the application of the tax treaty and regain its right to tax retirement pensions from French sources.
French courts have not yet ruled on the treatment of such “NHR” taxpayers. There is little doubt that the outcome will be controversial between the position of the French tax administration and that of taxpayers. In all in cases, any letters received from the tax authorities should not be left unanswered. The response to be made and the arguments to be put forward (scope of the agreement tax, existence of taxable income provided that it is not fictitious, the effectiveness of the Portuguese residence) must be adapted to each particular situation.
The 2020 Portuguese State Budget entered into force as of 01 April 1 2020. It reformed the tax system of NHR beneficiaries, by introducing, instead of a total exemption, a flat rate assessment at the rate of 10% for a period of 10 years on pensions from foreign sources. More specifically, the 10% rate applies not only to pension income paid as a result of retirement but also to other types of pensions such as income allocated in the event of early retirement, as well as other benefits granted under compulsory social security pension schemes, including amounts paid by the employer on life insurance contracts as well as contributions to pension funds, retirement savings schemes or any complementary Social Security plan. If retirement is also taxable in the source country, Portugal will grant a tax credit which may be deducted from the tax due abroad.
With regard to other types of income (dividends, rental income, etc.), no amendment was introduced in the State Budget. In practice, these changes also concern taxpayers who already benefit from the scheme. “NHR” taxpayers who are resident in Portugal and who have already applied for but who have not yet received a response can choose the application of the new regime to their 2020 income tax return.
24 Wednesday Jun 2020
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≈ Comments Off on Naturalised foreigners double those born in Portugal
In 2019, more than 180,000 foreigners obtained Portuguese nationality, more than double the number of babies born in Portugal (81,351) over the same period. The number is a record high and reflects the growing impact of the current immigration legislation that has increasingly opened the country’s doors to migrants. The majority of applicants come from Brazil, Cape Verde and Israel. On average, there are almost 15,000 foreigners per month who are approved for Portuguese nationality.
24 Wednesday Jun 2020
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≈ Comments Off on Portugal is still the third most peaceful country in the world
In 2020, Portugal ranks first among the most peaceful countries in the European Union as reported by the Institute for Economics and Peace. The worldwide classification is led by Iceland, which holds the top spot since 2008, followed by New Zealand. The Ministry of the Interior expressed its satisfaction with the maintenance of Portugal’s third place. In 2014, the country ranked 18th. At the opposite end of the spectrum are the regions of the Middle East and North Africa, home to three of the five least secure nations (Iraq, Syria and Yemen). Afghanistan continues to be the most dangerous.
DSG - in the pipeline 