COVID-19: Payment deferment of VAT and social contributions in Portugal

Regarding the VAT payment for the third quarter of 2020, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (certified by a statutory auditor or a certified accountant) or VAT taxpayers whose activity started on 1 January 2019 onwards may pay said VAT (deadline extended from 20 to 25 November by Order of SEAF no. 437/2020.XXII and Circular letter no. 30227/2020, of 10 November):

a) By 30 November 2020; or

b) In three or six monthly installments of a value equal to or higher than 25€, with no interest or guarantee needed to be presented. The first instalment (concerning 1/3 or 1/6) is due within the respective legal deadline and remaining installments in the following months, successively.

The request for its payment in monthly instalments must be submitted electronically on the Portuguese Tax Authority website, until the end of the voluntary payment period, in "Pagamentos > Flexibilização de Pagamentos > Aderir".

In what respects to the payment of social contributions for November and December 2020, self-employed workers and employers in the private and social sectors also qualified as micro, small and medium-sized companies can pay them in three or six equal and successive installments, without interest:

a) From July to September 2021 (three installments);

b) From July to December 2021 (six installments).

This possibility does not exclude the full payment of social contributions due by employers and it does depend on the submission of a request. For this purpose, in February 2021, applicants must indicate in Segurança Social Direta website which payment scheme they intend to adopt.

Failure to meet these requirements or failure to pay one of the installments implies the immediate maturity of all the installments in default and interest shall become due.