Fiscal Rep - No longer required !

[tommurray1]

Hi everybody
just to bring your attention to the update on Finance Tab on this website
Fiscal Rep may no longer be required -
Check it out on " FINANCE" tab

regards

Tom

[biffa]

Correct for EU residents it is no longer an obligation but ...... can't wait to see the confusion this causes!

[Bruce Wallis]

Correct for EU residents it is no longer an obligation but ...... can't wait to see the confusion this causes!

Why confusion?

I know what your business is Biffa....but quite honestly from many of our point of view, in insisting on a fiscal rep....they, the Portuguese government, were just creating jobs for the local boys.

I have to pay a fiscal rep to ensure that I pay my rates, car tax etc. He actually does nothing except cash my annual retainer cheque. But to be fair....he does remind me when my rates are due.

I am responsible for paying my own bills in the UK without having a fiscal......why should I need one in Portugal.

[joeysoap]

cant understand why you are not allowed to set up a direct debit.

you have to pay the tax.
the portuguese want to collect your tax.
what could be more simple than setting up a direct debit and everbody happy. ok not happy but you know what i mean.

[e-richard]

what could be more simple than setting up a direct debit and everbody happy.

Well, everybody except the accountants and others who charge fiscal rep fees

[biffa]

The confusion will be when the tax payer in UK or elsewhere receives tax department documents in Portuguese! You just would not believe what volume of documentation both by post and e-mail we have to sift through just to see what might have to be done and replied to for each client. There is an assumption by the tax payer that fiscal reps do nothing - wait and see!

[biffa]

Correct for EU residents it is no longer an obligation but ...... can't wait to see the confusion this causes!

I am responsible for paying my own bills in the UK without having a fiscal......why should I need one in Portugal.

cos in England you understand the system and the language!

[e-richard]

...You just would not believe what volume of documentation both by post and e-mail we have to sift through...

Oh yes I would believe you !

Portugal without beauracracy would be like Wimbledon without rain - it happens, but very rarely.

[Farol]

The confusion will be when the tax payer in UK or elsewhere receives tax department documents in Portuguese! You just would not believe what volume of documentation both by post and e-mail we have to sift through just to see what might have to be done and replied to for each client. There is an assumption by the tax payer that fiscal reps do nothing - wait and see!

I am convinced that the majority of those that have been acting as fiscal reps would still be of little help in many tax situations. The past need to have a fiscal rep should not have been confused with circumstances where it is prudent to appoint an accountant that specialises in tax matters when the need arises. Many fiscal reps were providing little more than a mail box service and that met the previous Portuguese requirements providing a nice little earner.

The provision of proper taxation & accounting services is (and always should have been) a totally different matter.

In the UK I deal with my own everyday tax matters and know when to go to my financial adviser/accountant. My approach in Portugal needn't be any different except that if the language starts to get too complex then I might seek help then - however that hasn't happened yet.

[biffa]

Agreed Farol.

Dealing with the Finanças is often not a job for the inexperienced nor the faint hearted!

[joeysoap]

I think the financas will not make it easy for non residents comply with the regulations without a fiscal rep. but this new ruling might just keep fiscal reps costs from escalating. when I 'appointed' my fiscal rep two years ago the charges were €150 +vat + extra if he had to do any extra work. he now advertises €190 plus the rest for new clients - but if you are already registered you remain on the €150. what he does in my case ie two emails a year looking for the tax, one mail for his yearly fee and two emails with receipts from the financas.

i will probably stick with him for convenience as i suspect lots will.

[biffa]

The Finance Ministry fought this decision of the ECJ on the basis they needed fiscal reps to ensure effectiveness of fiscal supervision and to prevent tax avoidance (evasion?) so they did not welcome the decision and I doubt they will make it simple.