At Elevate Accounting, providing consistently high quality service is our first priority. Because of this, we only provide personal tax support (for example preparing IRS Declarations) for the business clients we support throughout the year.
That being said, personal tax is an important consideration when choosing an accountant in Portugal. Moving to Portugal brings a set of financial and tax obligations that are different from those in your home country. Depending on your residency status, tax benefit programs, income sources, and business activities, there are many situations that you may need to navigate.
Elevate Accounting was built specifically for international clients in Portugal. We provide accounting and tax support in English, with a structured approach and clear communication throughout. Since nearly all of our clients are international, we’ve likely worked with situations like yours in the past. For example, many of our clients benefit from the NHR and IFICI tax benefit programs, have multiple businesses in multiple countries, and hold diverse investments.
Our clients come from across the world — primarily the UK, US, Canada, EU, and the Middle East. We understand the cross-border dimension of most international situations and work with specialist advisors where specific home-country obligations arise.
We prepare and submit your annual Portuguese IRS (personal income tax) declaration, covering all applicable income sources.
We partner with trusted experts that asses eligibility for Portugal's Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) and successor IFICI regimes, manage the application process, and file within the framework of whichever applies.
We ensure your worldwide income — including foreign pensions, investment income, rental income, and crypto — is correctly declared under Portuguese tax rules.
For clients running businesses with income or assets in multiple countries, we handle Portuguese obligations and coordinate with advisors in relevant jurisdictions.
We set up the appropriate structure — ENI, Unipessoal LDA, or LDA — and handle registration with the AT and Segurança Social.
The firm was founded by an American entrepreneur who himself has a complicated web of businesses, investments, and tax benefit regimes. He understood the language barriers, communication style, and the particular tax and compliance questions that arise for expats and foreigners earning income in Portugal.
Our team combines Portuguese Certified Accountants (Contabilistas Certificados) with Client Success Managers whose role is English communication, structured updates, and keeping every client informed and on track.
At Elevate Accounting, providing consistently high quality service is our first priority. Because of this, we only provide personal tax support (for example preparing IRS Declarations) for the business clients we support throughout the year.
Post-Brexit, UK nationals living in Portugal have the same obligations as other non-EU residents. We work with a significant number of UK clients — including retirees, business owners, and those who relocated during or after Brexit — and understand the specific questions that arise around UK pension income, double tax treaties, and cross-border compliance.
American and Canadian clients typically have specific home-country obligations that run in parallel to their Portuguese requirements. US citizens in particular face FATCA and FBAR reporting obligations regardless of where they live. We understand the interaction between Portuguese and US/Canadian obligations and can recommend US accountants specialising in cross-border matters where required.
Citizens of other EU member states relocating to Portugal benefit from freedom of movement but still need to navigate Portuguese tax registration, IRS filings, and residency requirements. We work with clients from across the EU, including Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia.
We work with clients from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other jurisdictions who have chosen Portugal as a base, often in combination with investment activity, the D7 visa, or the Golden Visa programme.
Portugal's Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) tax regime offered significant tax benefits to qualifying new residents for a 10-year period. The original NHR regime closed to new applicants in 2024 and was replaced by the IFICI regime (Incentivo Fiscal à Investigação Científica e Inovação), which operates on different eligibility criteria.
If you are considering a move to Portugal, or arrived recently, the applicability of IFICI to your situation depends on your profession, income type, and the timing of your arrival. Early planning matters — some benefits are only available if the right steps are taken before the relevant tax year.
We connect you with trusted partners who advise on IFICI eligibility, manage the application, and ensure your IRS filings are structured correctly throughout the regime period.
For clients who are also running a business in Portugal, expat accounting and bookkeeping work together. We handle both under a single engagement, which avoids duplication and means one team has a complete picture of your financial position.
Services available on an ongoing basis include: bookkeeping, VAT, corporate income tax, payroll, and advisory.
If you are a tax resident in Portugal, you are generally required to file an annual IRS declaration reporting your worldwide income. The rules vary depending on your income type, residency status, and applicable tax regime. We assess your specific situation and manage the filing on your behalf.
The NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal) is your Portuguese tax identification number. You need one to open a bank account, sign a lease, register a business, or file a tax return in Portugal. We obtain this for clients as part of our onboarding process.
NHR was a regime offering flat-rate tax treatment on certain income types to new residents for 10 years. It closed to new applicants in 2024. IFICI is a successor regime with different eligibility criteria, primarily targeting professionals in scientific research, technology, and innovation. Our trusted partners can advise on which regime applies to your situation.
We handle your Portuguese obligations in full, including the declaration of foreign income under Portuguese rules. For UK and US filings, you should work directly with specialists from those countries. We are clear upfront about what we cover and where referrals are needed.
The majority of our clients are from the UK, US, Canada, and the EU — though we work with international clients of all backgrounds. Our working language is English.
Book a consultation with our expat accounting team — we'll explain exactly what applies to your situation.
