Latest news and stories about expat finances in legal in Portugal for expats and residents.
A recent conclusion from the Advocate General of the European Union regarding case C-70/25 suggests that banks may no longer use 'gross negligence' as a blanket defense to deny reimbursement for digital fraud. The opinion argues that financial institutions should be required to reimburse unauthorized transactions immediately, shifting the burden of proof onto the banks if they wish to pursue claims of customer negligence.
The Tax and Customs Authority (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira or AT) has issued warnings regarding an increase in fraudulent schemes targeting taxpayers during the current income tax (Imposto sobre o Rendimento de Pessoas Singulares or IRS) filing period. Criminals are using the agency's name to send deceptive messages about refunds or outstanding debts to steal personal information.
The IRS withholding tables (tabelas de retenção na fonte) are government-published schedules that determine how much personal income tax (Imposto sobre o Rendimento das Pessoas Singulares — IRS) employers must deduct from each paycheck. They take into account gross pay, marital status, number of dependents, and disability status.
The tables are updated annually (and sometimes mid-year when budgets change), directly affecting monthly take-home pay. When tables are revised downward, workers see more in their pay packet; when raised, less. Any difference between amounts withheld and the actual tax owed is settled when the annual IRS return (Modelo 3) is filed, typically between April and June.
Employees and pensioners should check the current tables — published by the Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira (AT) — whenever they change, as the impact on net income can be significant.
The Prosecutor-General's Office (Procuradoria-Geral da República or PGR) has issued a warning regarding a new wave of cyber fraud targeting taxpayers. Criminals are sending mass messages via WhatsApp and email falsely claiming that recipients have outstanding debts to the Tax Authority (Autoridade Tributária or AT). Authorities advise citizens to be cautious of these fraudulent requests for payment.
The Attorney General's Office is Portugal's public prosecution service, the Procuradoria‑Geral da República (PGR), which leads criminal prosecutions and issues official legal warnings, including through specialised units such as its Cybercrime Office. The PGR recently warned about email scams targeting banking details, so residents should treat its alerts as primary sources of official cybersecurity guidance.
Minimum services (serviços mínimos) are the legally required basic services that must be maintained during a strike to protect public safety—in healthcare this typically covers emergency care, critical ambulance coverage and intensive care. They matter because the INEM workers' committee admitted that late or unclear communication about which teams would be available during the end-of-2024 strike may have reduced operational capacity and confused patients; as an expat, expect limited non-urgent care during strikes and check official updates or call 112 for true emergencies.
The three-month window to submit annual tax returns (declaração de IRS) for 2025 income opens today on the Finance Portal (Portal das Finanças). Taxpayers have until June 30 to file, regardless of whether they are employees, pensioners, or self-employed workers (trabalhadores a recibos verdes). Experts warn that refunds may be lower this year because the Tax Authority (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira or AT) adjusted withholding tables mid-year to leave more money in monthly paychecks.
The Portal das Finanças is Portugal's official online tax platform, operated by the Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira (AT — Tax and Customs Authority). It is where individuals and businesses file tax returns, check tax records, make payments, and manage their fiscal affairs.
Key functions include filing the annual IRS return (Modelo 3), accessing e-invoices (e-fatura), consulting property tax (IMI) records, requesting tax residency certificates, and paying outstanding tax debts. Access requires a NIF (tax identification number) and a password or digital key.
The portal is essential for anyone living or working in Portugal. Residents should be aware that scam messages impersonating the AT are common — always access the portal directly at portaldasfinancas.gov.pt rather than through links in emails or SMS.
Green receipts (recibos verdes) are the digital invoices used by self-employed workers and freelancers in Portugal to report their earnings. They are managed through the Finance Portal (Portal das Finanças) and are used to calculate annual income tax (IRS) and social security (Segurança Social) obligations.
The Portuguese Association of Insurers (Associação Portuguesa de Seguradores or APS) has revised the estimated cost of damages from early 2024 storms upward to one billion euros. While insurers have already paid out over 260 million euros, many residents in hard-hit areas like Arruda dos Vinhos remain displaced due to slow state aid and severe infrastructure damage. Property owners should ensure all storm-related claims are documented as the total volume of reported losses continues to rise. Residents in affected regions should check with local councils regarding the status of state support applications.
The Portuguese Association of Insurers (Associação Portuguesa de Seguradores or APS) represents the companies providing insurance services in Portugal. It recently reported that the industry has paid 41% of the €260 million in claims resulting from winter storms. Policyholders should be aware that APS helps coordinate industry-wide responses to natural disasters and regulatory changes.
Severe weather earlier this year has led to 616 loans being placed under moratorium at Crédito Agrícola, totaling €124 million in debt relief for affected customers. The damage was particularly heavy in the central region, with the municipality of Arganil alone reporting €1 million in losses to local roads and infrastructure. Local authorities are still working to restore access to areas like Piódão, where landslides have interrupted traffic. Residents in the central interior should be aware of ongoing road repairs and check with their financial institutions if they require assistance due to weather-related property damage.
The Tax Authority (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira) has warned taxpayers about fraudulent SMS and email messages designed to trick recipients into visiting malicious pages or making improper payments, Correio da Manhã and Observador report. Authorities advise checking communications through official Tax Authority channels rather than following links in unsolicited messages.
Tax debt is any unpaid tax liability owed to Portugal's tax authority (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira), including income tax, VAT and other charges. Under the recent rules mentioned in the story, people with outstanding tax debt can be blocked from receiving state disaster aid, so residents should check their tax status or obtain a debt‑clearance document before applying for public support.
The Portal das Finanças is Portugal's official online tax platform, operated by the Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira (AT — Tax and Customs Authority). It is where individuals and businesses file tax returns, check tax records, make payments, and manage their fiscal affairs.
Key functions include filing the annual IRS return (Modelo 3), accessing e-invoices (e-fatura), consulting property tax (IMI) records, requesting tax residency certificates, and paying outstanding tax debts. Access requires a NIF (tax identification number) and a password or digital key.
The portal is essential for anyone living or working in Portugal. Residents should be aware that scam messages impersonating the AT are common — always access the portal directly at portaldasfinancas.gov.pt rather than through links in emails or SMS.
A Portugal Resident guide notes that how you structure assets while resident in Portugal can change your tax position, who inherits them and the taxes your estate pays. The article recommends reviewing account ownership, beneficiary designations and where funds are held, because small changes can shift tax treatment. Residents with significant portfolios should get tailored advice from a Portuguese tax adviser.
