NIPC: the company tax number — incorporation or registration of a foreign entity

Two situations, two procedures

You are creating a Portuguese company. The NIPC is assigned during incorporation. The fastest route is Empresa na Hora: at one of the registry counters, in one session, with all shareholders present (or represented by power of attorney), you choose a company name from the pre-approved list — or bring an admissibility certificate from the RNPC for a name of your own — adopt a standard or custom articles of association, sign, and leave with the company registered, the NIPC, the social security number of the company, the commercial registry certificate and the access code. Cost: 360 € (plus 200 € to register a trademark at the same time, 44 € per additional class). The share capital is deposited in the company’s bank account within five working days, unless the shareholders declare it will be paid into the company’s till by the end of the first financial year. Online incorporation (Empresa Online) exists for those with a Portuguese digital signature.

You are a foreign company and need a Portuguese number — to buy or lease property, to open a branch (sucursal) or representation, to be a shareholder in a Portuguese company, to hire, to register a car. The entity is registered with the RNPC (Registo Nacional de Pessoas Coletivas) and receives a NIPC as a non-resident entity, on presentation of its foreign registration certificate (apostilled and translated), its articles, the identity of its directors and a Portuguese address for notifications. A tax representative in Portugal is required for a non-EU entity; a VAT representative before any activity subject to VAT.

• 360 € Empresa na Hora — company, NIPC and registration in one session
• 5 working days to deposit the share capital (minimum 1 € per share for a Lda.)
• Foreign entities register with the RNPC and appoint a Portuguese representative
• Founders need a NIF before the company can have a NIPC

What you need before the counter

• a NIF for every shareholder and director (foreigners obtain it first — how);
• identity documents; for a corporate shareholder, its own NIPC or foreign registration;
• the registered office address (a lease, a domiciliation contract or an owner’s authorisation);
• the choice of legal form — sociedade por quotas (Lda., the standard limited company, one or more shareholders, capital from 1 € per share) or sociedade anónima (S.A., 50 000 € capital, five shareholders or a corporate one), among others;
• the activity codes (CAE) and, for regulated activities, the licence or professional registration that the activity requires;
• a certified accountant (contabilista certificado) to be named for the start of activity at Finanças.

After incorporation

Within days: the declaration of start of activity at Finanças (tax framing, VAT regime), the company’s registration at Segurança Social as an employer, the RCBE declaration of beneficial owners (mandatory, within 30 days), the company bank account, and the accountant’s set-up of invoicing software certified by the AT. A company that misses the RCBE or the start-of-activity declaration cannot invoice lawfully or distribute profits.

Questions