Portugal Approves New Periodic VAT Return Form

Portugal's tax authority, through Portaria No. 298/2026/1, has approved a new model for the periodic VAT return. Among the main changes are the introduction of new informational tables that break down operations already reported in the corresponding sections of the return, as well as the differentiation of purchases of goods and services according to the applicable VAT rate. Additionally, the Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira has published new criteria for correcting invoices and adjusting VAT.

When do the changes to the Portuguese VAT return take effect?

Although the Portaria entered into force on 17 July 2026, not all changes are immediately mandatory: the law itself sets out two different implementation timelines.

Already effective from 1 July 2026:

• VAT grouping regime: a new checkbox in table 01 ("Regime Grupos IVA – Lei n.º 62/2025") to identify returns filed by companies under this regime, together with the tax ID (NIF) of the parent entity.

• Reduced rate for housing (item 2.42): new fields in the annexes to boxes 40 and 41 to report, by period, the taxable base and the VAT amount of adjustments arising from Article 11 of Decree-Law No. 97/2026.

Effective from 1 July 2027:

• e-Taxfree system: new boxes 25 and 26 in table 06 for supplies of goods to non-resident travellers.

• Deduction of "other goods and services" broken down by rate: box 24 is removed and replaced by three boxes according to the applicable rate: reduced rate (currently 6%) in box 27, intermediate rate (13%) in box 28, and standard rate in box 29.  

• New reverse-charge scenarios: boxes 108 and 109 in table 06-A, including the acquisition of electricity from self-consumers.

• Special margin taxation schemes (liquid fuels, travel agencies, second-hand goods): new Part E of table 06-A.

• Three new tables (06-B, 06-C and 06-D) that break down by tax rate the amounts already reported in table 06-A, transactions documented by means other than an invoice, and exempt or non-taxable transactions that carry the right to deduct.

• In the annex to box 40: the mechanism under Article 78(6) CIVA (material or recording errors) is removed and such corrections must now be made through an amended return; a field is also added in table 05 for the tax ID (NIF) of the independent certified accountant when they certify the adjustment. The same removal of Article 78(6) also applies to the annex to box 41.

• Equivalent changes are carried over to Annex R for taxable persons with operations in the Azores or Madeira.

Updates to invoice correction and VAT adjustment rules

In addition to the changes to the VAT return described above, the Portuguese tax authority also updated, through Ofício-Circulado No. 25120/2026, its criteria on invoice correction and VAT adjustment, repealing the guidance that had been in force since 1993. Among the most important points of this new guidance are the distinction between formal errors (which do not require an adjustment) and recording or legal errors, the acceptance of digital evidence to prove that an adjustment has been communicated to the customer, and a transitional regime until the end of 2026 to allow businesses to adapt their invoicing systems.