How to check the status of your personal income tax return on the Portuguese Tax Authority portal
30 June is the deadline for filing the Portuguese personal income tax return (IRS), and many taxpayers have already met their obligation and are now waiting for a refund or an assessment notice.
You can check the status of your return on the Tax Authority portal (Portal das Finanças). To do so, you need to sign in with your access credentials.
Then go to the “IRS” area and choose “Consultar declaração” (View return).
The first step is to click “Obter comprovativo” (Get receipt), choose the date you want the receipt for, and select “Comprovativo”.
Next, confirm that everything is in order. You may see:
- Return accepted
- This means everything is in order and the return moves on to the assessment stage, “Liquidação processada” (assessment processed).
- Return with anomalies
- If “Divergência” (discrepancy) appears, the first step is to search for “divergências de IRS” in the portal’s search, which brings up a table with the main errors detected. Select the “+info” option to get all the information you need about the problem and how to correct it. If it is not corrected, the tax return may be rendered void.
- If “Divergência” (discrepancy) appears, the first step is to search for “divergências de IRS” in the portal’s search, which brings up a table with the main errors detected. Select the “+info” option to get all the information you need about the problem and how to correct it. If it is not corrected, the tax return may be rendered void.
To resolve the situation, according to Deco Proteste, you have two options:
- Submit your explanation through the Tax Authority portal, under “Divergências”. In that area you can write a statement and attach the documents needed to support it.
- File a replacement return or correct the return you filed previously. As long as it is submitted within the legal deadline, no penalty applies. To do so, go to “IRS” and then click “Entregar declaração” (File return).
Take particular care to keep following the status of the process in the discrepancies area.
Finally, once everything is settled, you may:
- Receive a refund
If you are due a refund, the status of the return will show “Pagamento confirmado” (payment confirmed) and it will be paid by 31 August.
Bear in mind that if the taxpayer has any outstanding tax debt, this refund may be used to offset the amounts owed.
- Have to make a payment
The status of the tax return will show as “Notificação emitida” (notice issued) and the taxpayer will be notified to make the payment.
