To carry out any kind of transaction in Portugal you will need a Numero de Contribuinte (Número de Identificação Fiscal) or tax number.
This is needed to:
- Open a bank account
- Buy a property
- Sign a rental contract
- Purchase a car
- Contract a mobile phone
- Set up household utilities etc.
However, we found it to be a quick and easy process, which literally took us ten minutes.
Location
The tax office in Estremoz – or Finanças – is found in the main square (Rossio Marquês de Pombal 17 1º), where the Saturday market is held. There is plenty of parking just opposite and the official opening hours are: 9:00hrs to 15:30hrs.
Opening hours
We had read online that we should expect a lengthy wait and it was recommend to arrive before 9:00hrs in order to be attended as quickly as possible. However in reality it was quite the opposite: there was no one else there when the doors opened and we didn’t have to wait at all.
As you enter the main hall, you take a ticket from the machine for the counter that deals with issuing the Numero de Contribuinte (NIF) and wait until your number is called. We were dealt with quickly and courteously even though our Portuguese is still limited.
Documents
In order to request your Numero de Contribuinte, you will need to take your passport and proof of address from your home country or country of usual residence. This can be a recent bank statement as long as it shows your name and address.
The NIF number is issued immediately while you wait and cost us €10.20. You pay this at a separate counter and are given an A4 piece of paper that shows all your information and your unique NIF number, plus a receipt of the payment made.
Once the purchase of our property in Estremoz had gone ahead, and because we are living here full time, we returned to Finanças a couple of weeks later with the deeds of purchase and it took two minutes to change our tax address to the new, local one. A simple transaction and there was no charge for this.
Contacts:
Email: sf0906@at.gov.pt
Tel: 266 750 890
