VAT in Portugal guide

VAT rates

The term “taxable supplies” refers to supplies of goods and services that are liable to a rate of VAT.

The VAT rates in Portugal are:

• Standard rate: 23%
• Intermediate rate: 13%
• Reduced rate: 6%

The standard rate of VAT applies to all supplies of goods or services, unless a specific measure provides for the intermediate rate, the reduced rate or an exemption.

Portuguese VAT for digital service providers

In case of digital services, telecom services or broadcasting services supplied in a B2B context, the place of supply is the place where the recipient is established. No Portuguese VAT should be charged, and reverse charge applies unless supplier and customer are established in Portugal. In case of digital services, telecom services or broadcasting services supplied in a B2C context we refer to the section on the Mini One-Stop Shop below for more information.

Mini One-Stop Shop

The optional simplification measure called the “Mini One-Stop Shop” (MOSS) with respect to digital services, telecommunication services and broadcasting services supplied in a B2C context. The supply of these services is generally considered as taking place in the Member State of the customer, not the Member State of the supplier.The MOSS scheme allows all taxable persons supplying digital services, telecommunication services or broadcasting services to nontaxable persons in EU Member States in which they do not have an establishment, to account for the VAT due on those supplies via a web portal in the Member State in which they are identified. The MOSS allows qualifying taxable persons to avoid registering in each Member State of consumption. The MOSS simplification is available both for taxable persons established in the EU and outside the EU. The MOSS generally mirrored the scheme that was in place for non-EU established suppliers of electronically supplied digital services, telecommunication services or broadcasting services supplied to final consumers. Persons already registered under the pre-existing scheme for electronically supplied digital services, telecommunication services or broadcasting services, should retain their existing individual VAT identification numbers for the purposes of the MOSS.

Late – registration penalties

The following penalties are levied for late VAT registration in Portugal:

• A penalty ranging from EUR 600 to EUR 7,500 if the taxpayer’s actions were not intentional
• A penalty ranging from EUR 600 to EUR 15,000 if the taxpayer’s actions were intentional