Portugal prepares e-invoicing 2030 – vatcalc.com

Government update on ViDA plans

During a recent parliamentary session, Secretary of State for Tax Affairs, Cláudia Reis Duarte, confirmed that the government has already started adapting the national e-invoice system to meet the upcoming requirements. She noted that while the deadline may seem distant, “2030 isn’t that far away either,” and early preparations are underway.

The reform will primarily affect cross-border B2B transactions, ensuring that tax authorities receive invoice data quickly enough to detect VAT fraud, close reporting gaps, and harmonise compliance obligations across the Single Market.

Portugal’s existing e-invoicing & reporting

Long before the EU’s VIDA project, the Portugal implemented one of the most digitally advanced VAT compliance systems in Europe, including:

• Certified invoicing software

  All businesses issuing invoices must use invoicing systems certified by the Portuguese Tax Authority (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira – AT). These solutions guarantee that invoices are tamper-proof, sequentially numbered, and compliant with national VAT requirements.

• SAF-T PT (Standard Audit File for Tax)

  Since 2013, companies have been required to generate SAF-T files – a standardized electronic file format containing detailed transaction and accounting data. These files must be submitted periodically to the AT, enabling tax inspectors to verify VAT compliance efficiently. SAF-T (PT) is also mandatory for annual accounting data submissions.

• E-invoice system for public sector transactions (Fatura Eletrónica)

  Portugal already mandates electronic invoicing for B2G (business-to-government) transactions, aligning with EU directives on public procurement.