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Last updated : 11.05.2026

Expense rules in Portugal.

All Autoridade Tributária rules: IVA, ajudas de custo, mileage rate and VAT recovery in Portugal.

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Standard IVA
23%
Reduced IVA
13% / 6%
Mileage rate
€0.40/km
National per diem
€50.20/d
EU VAT recovery
8th Directive
Currency
EUR

Disclaimer: This country guide is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Although we update it regularly, it may not reflect ongoing regulatory changes. Illizeo SA declines all responsibility for actions taken or not taken based on this content.

1Expense rules & reclaimable VAT

23% standard IVA, 13% intermediate, 6% reduced (food, hotels in Azores/Madeira).
Source: AT · Portal das Finanças
CategoryVATReclaimCap / Note
Business meals13%50% deductibleRepresentation expenses
Travel meals13%100% reclaimableAjudas de custo cap
Accommodation6%100% reclaimableReduced rate (mainland)
Fuel23%100% reclaimableBusiness use
Train / CP / flight6%100% reclaimablePublic transport
Taxi6%100% reclaimableReceipt required
Client gifts23%Limited€50 net/recipient cap
Parking / toll23%100% reclaimableItemized invoice

National ajuda

€50.20

Flat national daily allowance (Portaria 1553-D/2008).

Foreign ajuda

€100.24

Daily foreign allowance.

Retention

10 years

Tax records: 10 years (Código do IVA).

2Mileage allowance

Mileage rate for personal vehicle business use.
AT 2024
ModeAllowanceCapNote
Personal car0,40 €/kmUnlimitedPublic sector standard
Motorcycle0,20 €/kmUnlimitedReduced rate

Car rate

€0.40

Tax-free mileage allowance (Portaria 1553-D/2008).

Covers

Everything

Fuel + maintenance + depreciation.

Logbook

Recommended

Date, location, km, purpose to retain.

3Per diem and travel allowances

Ajudas de custo — flat allowances Portaria 1553-D/2008.
Portaria 1553-D/2008
DestinationMealLodging / nightDaily rate
Portugal — national50,20 €50,20 €
Lisbon / Porto50,20 €100 €150,20 €
Foreign — Paris100,24 €160 €260,24 €
Foreign — London100,24 €210 €310,24 €
Foreign — New York115 €290 €405 €

Top management

€69.19

Group A national ajuda.

Foreign

€100.24

Foreign standard.

Reduction

50% / 75%

If meal/lodging provided.

4Foreign VAT recovery

PT company VAT recovery in EU (8th Directive) and reverse.
8th Directive · AT
ZoneMechanismDeadlineMethod
European Union (27)8th Directive (2008/9/EC)30 Sept. N+1Portal das Finanças
FranceReciprocity30 Sept. N+1Via Portal das Finanças
United Kingdom13th Directive post-Brexit31 Dec. N+1HMRC VAT65A
SwitzerlandReciprocity30 June N+1FTA Form 1222
USANo recoverySales tax not recoverable
PT IVA for foreign cosForm 30 — AT30 Sept. N+1Portal das Finanças — Form 30

EU minimum

€50

Annual 8th Directive request.

PT minimum

€25

Min VAT per request.

Typical ROI

0.5–2%

% expenses recovered multi-country.

Industrialize your Portugal expenses with Illizeo.

IVA 23%/13%/6%, AT €0.40/km mileage, ajudas de custo Portaria 1553-D/2008, EU 8th Directive VAT recovery: all the AT rules above are natively integrated into Illizeo.

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