For expats freelancing in Portugal
You shouldn't need an accounting degree to understand your own taxes.
You moved to Portugal for the lifestyle, the weather, the community. Then you started freelancing - and discovered a tax system built for people who grew up with it. Issuing an invoice takes 5 minutes. Quarterly VAT takes 10. Descodify walks you through every step, in a language you understand.
Invoicing, coming soon
Get early access - free tier includes unlimited invoicing.
What it actually takes
The work your accountant does for the simplified regime? It's simpler than you think.
~5 min
Invoice-receipt
Client, description, amount. Descodify handles VAT, series numbering, and AT communication.
~10 min
Quarterly VAT
Descodify pre-calculates your Declaração Periódica de IVA. You review the numbers and submit.
~5 min
Social Security
Monthly contributions calculated from your actual invoices. No surprises when Segurança Social sends the bill.
Guided
Annual IRS
Step-by-step preparation with your data already organized. Upload proof as you go so it's there when you need it.
The expat reality
You're not the first person to feel lost. These are the things every expat freelancer runs into.
You gave your accountant your tax portal login
The Portal das Finanças (the tax authority's online portal) is where everything happens - invoices, tax declarations, your entire fiscal life. Most accountants ask for your login credentials, and you have to keep two-factor authentication off so they can access it. You don't love this, but you don't know the alternative.
You don't understand what's being filed in your name
Your accountant submits quarterly and annual declarations on your behalf. You trust them, but you can't read the forms, you don't know what was included, and you wouldn't know if something was wrong. Terms like Recibo Verde, retenção na fonte, and e-fatura mean nothing to you - but they're the building blocks of your entire tax situation.
The terminology is in Portuguese and the rules are unwritten
You hear about the Regime Simplificado (simplified tax regime), the 15% expense proof rule, and VAT exemption thresholds - but you can't find a clear, up-to-date explanation in English. The official government sites are in Portuguese. Expat forums are full of outdated advice and conflicting opinions.
Your expenses don't fit the Portuguese system
You pay for software from the US, a coworking space in Lisbon, a domain name billed from Ireland, and hosting from Germany. Some invoices have VAT, some don't. Some should trigger reverse-charge. Your accountant spends time sorting through what can be declared and what can't - and you have no visibility into the outcome.
Works with your accountant - or without one
Even if you work with a consultant, understand what's being filed. Descodify gives you visibility into a process that's been happening behind someone else's login.
Every step explained in plain language
Descodify doesn't just automate - it teaches. Every screen includes the official Portuguese term so you recognise it on government portals and in conversations with your accountant.
Built for international businesses
Your clients are in London, Berlin, and New York. Your suppliers bill from Ireland, the US, and the Netherlands. Descodify handles the complexity.
Automatic VAT treatment for cross-border services
Invoice a business in the EU? Reverse-charge applies. An individual outside the EU? Different rules. Descodify picks the correct VAT treatment based on where your client is and whether they have a VIES-validated VAT number.
Expenses from suppliers worldwide
Software subscriptions from the US, a domain from Ireland, a conference in Germany. Descodify categorizes each expense, applies the right VAT treatment, and tracks which ones count toward your 15% expense proof threshold.
Certified invoices that meet Portuguese requirements
Even when your clients are abroad, your invoices (faturas) must comply with Portuguese invoicing law. Descodify generates certified invoices with the right format, numbering, and tax details - automatically.
Free tools to get you started
Not ready to sign up yet? These tools are free and require no account.
Ready to take control of your taxes?
Start for free - certified invoicing and expense visibility. Handle your obligations in a few minutes each month, no Portuguese required.
Invoicing, coming soon
Get early access - free tier includes unlimited invoicing.