Every time you buy something you're asked your NIF or Passport ID?
Why do the McDonalds or public ticket vending machines ask for your tax number? In the end as a tourist either I need enter some kind of fake number (what happens when I will be ‚caught’ doing this?) or you cannot continue buying basic staff. What’s even purpose of this?
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Comments14
Sapphire Geyser
May 26, 2025
You can skip that step, even the citizens can skip it and not provide the tax number.
Chocolate Sand
May 26, 2025
Yep, I am a Portuguese living abroad and just say no. Not an issue.
Red Glacier
May 27, 2025
It’s no issue to skip it, but providing the tax number essentially helps building up your yearly tax returns in the country.
Harlequin Star
May 26, 2025
This was made to promote tax efficiency during the troika. There was a huge tax evasion by business so they created a policy whereby you could deduct a percentage of the VAT on the income tax. This policy although annoying has hugely decreased tax evasion and had a positive impact
Purple Mustard
May 27, 2025
This one I disagree with.
I think its handy, I regularly give my NIF.
Especially things that are tax deductible, e.g. Medicines, Vet related expenses, household expenses, gym membership, etc.
Also, when I do my IVA (VAT) return, all my expenses are neatly lined up and organised and I just have to attribute the expense to a category.
Also,
When doing annual tax return, everything once again is lined up and neat.
The only reason not to give your NIF is tax evasion (spending money that you have not declared). Which is a bigger problem than this one being stated.
Cyan Raccoon
May 26, 2025
If stuck just enter all 9’s. At a manned checkout when they ask “Contribuinte?” Just say não.
Rose Exoplanet
May 26, 2025
Skip, say “no”, or type “ 999999999” (generic NIF for end consumer)
But, yeah, this shit is stupid af
Teal Mongoose
May 27, 2025
They could just give everyone a card with a bar code and let business scan it. It would save so much time and make people give their NIF more often.
Gray Crater
May 27, 2025
If you ask for the VAT number, you can then discount some of your expenses when you file your taxes, and you can even get paid by the government. You may get a couple hundred bucks at the end of the fiscal year.
Because of this, a lot of people ask for the VAT number on their invoice, and so it has become a custom to ask if the client wants it on the invoice before the sale is made.
Coral Cucumber
May 27, 2025
It’s not mandatory to use it. People just ask for it because they need to fill it in before issuing an invoice. You don't have to come up with a fake number. Just say that you don't need an invoice with VAT number and that's it!
Red Glacier
May 27, 2025
This is something that could be streamlined for card payments. My bank knows what is my tax number so there should be a bridge. Of course if I pay with cash it would still be needed.
But this might go a bit deeper, because a lot of people often associate NIF numbers with entities so they get extra expenses in their businesses. For example I could pay for my personal groceries with my personal card, and put the NIF of my company.
Purple Oasis
May 27, 2025
It's not a problem at all. You can just skip and that's it. Or when they are asking you you can say “nao, obrigado”. Guys, this is created to discuss REAL problem, not your impossibility to push a button on a screen, come on