Nota de Liquidação
Tax Assessment Notice
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The official document AT sends after processing your IRS return. It shows the final tax calculation: what you owe or are owed, and the payment deadline. Issued around July 31 for declarations filed in April–June.
File your IRS and you're done, until July, when AT sends back its response.
The nota de liquidação is the tax assessment AT issues after processing your Modelo 3 declaration. It's the official document that closes the loop: you declared your income, AT crunched the numbers, and this is the result.
What it contains
The nota de liquidação is a detailed breakdown of the tax calculation:
- Your declared income by category (Categoria B services, employment income if any, etc.)
- The deductions applied (specific deductions from your income category, plus deduções à coleta from health, education, e-fatura)
- The taxable base after deductions
- The applicable tax rates (or special rates like NHR's 20% flat rate)
- Withholding tax you already paid, this is credited here
- The final amount: either what you owe AT, or what AT owes you
If you had withholding tax deducted from your invoices throughout the year (campo 601 in Anexo B), that comes off the total owed. Many freelancers end up with a refund for this reason, especially if they were active for only part of the year or earned less than expected.
The timeline
April 1–June 30: You file your Modelo 3.
By July 31: AT issues the nota de liquidação.
By August 31: Payment due (if you owe), or refund paid (if AT owes you). Refunds go directly to the bank account AT has on file for you.
If you file early (say, in April) AT may process your declaration faster, and you might have your nota de liquidação and any refund before the end of June. There's no benefit to waiting.
Where to find it
Log into Portal das Finanças and navigate to IRS → Consultar Declarações. Select the relevant tax year. Once the nota de liquidação is available, you'll see it there, along with an option to download the PDF.
AT also sends a notification when it's available, check your portal message centre or registered email.
What to check when you get it
The most important things to verify:
The income matches what you declared. AT sometimes adjusts declared income if its records don't match. If your invoicing data from Recibos Verdes is AT-registered (which it is if you use certified software like Descodify or issue through the portal directly), the income figures should align.
Deductions were applied correctly. The nota de liquidação shows each deduction credited. If something is missing, Social Security contributions you declared in Campo 501, or health expenses from Anexo H, compare against what you submitted.
Your withholding tax was credited. If clients deducted retention na fonte from your payments, those amounts should appear as a credit here. If they're missing, check that you filled in Campo 601 of Anexo B.
If you disagree with the assessment
You have 30 days from the date on the nota de liquidação to file a reclamação (administrative complaint) through the portal. If that's rejected, there's a further appeals process.
The most common disagreements come from pre-filled data AT had that differed from what you declared, usually resolvable by checking your Recibos Verdes history and any employer withholding statements.
Frequently asked questions
What is the nota de liquidação?
The nota de liquidação is the official tax assessment AT issues after processing your IRS declaration. It shows the final calculation of your income tax liability, what rates applied, what deductions were credited, and the final amount you owe (to pay) or are owed (refund). Think of it as AT's response to your Modelo 3 filing.
When does AT issue the nota de liquidação?
For declarations filed in the April 1 to June 30 window, AT typically issues the nota de liquidação by July 31. If you owe tax, payment is due by August 31. If you're owed a refund, it's usually paid directly to your bank account around the same period.
Where do I find my nota de liquidação?
Log in to Portal das Finanças, go to IRS → Consultar Declarações, and select your year. The nota de liquidação appears there once AT has processed your declaration. You'll also receive a notification by email or via the portal's message centre.
What if the nota de liquidação shows an amount I don't recognise?
The nota de liquidação shows AT's calculation, which may differ from your own simulation if AT made adjustments or had different data. The most common causes: pre-filled income data that differed from what you declared, household composition differences, or deductions that AT couldn't verify. You have 30 days from the assessment date to lodge a reclamação (complaint) if you believe it's wrong.
Is the nota de liquidação the same as the comprovativo de entrega?
No. The comprovativo de entrega is the receipt confirming AT received your declaration, it's issued immediately when you submit. The nota de liquidação comes weeks later, after AT has processed the return and calculated your actual tax position. You need both: the comprovativo proves you filed, the nota de liquidação shows the result.
Related terms
Portugal's personal income tax: the annual tax that solo entrepreneurs pay on their individual income, declared each spring for the previous year's earnings.
Modelo 3IRS Tax Return FormThe official Portuguese personal income tax return form. Filed annually between April and June for the previous year's income. Consists of a cover page (Rosto) plus annexes based on your income sources.
Anexo BAnnex B: Self-Employment Income (Simplified Regime)The IRS annex where solo entrepreneurs on the simplified regime declare their self-employment income (Category B). Contains your gross revenue, withholding tax, and activity codes.
Personal Income TaxIRSThe English name for IRS (Imposto sobre o Rendimento das Pessoas Singulares): the annual tax on individual income in Portugal, including freelance and self-employment earnings.
Portal das FinançasTax Authority PortalThe Portuguese tax authority's online portal where freelancers issue Recibos Verdes, file tax declarations, register invoice series, and manage their tax obligations.