Chapter VI · Other obligations of taxable persons

Article 24 Tax representative

Artigo 24.º · Representante fiscal

Regime do IVA nas Transações Intracomunitárias · annexed to Decree-Law No. 290/92 · consolidated text checked 26 October 2026

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1. With regard to intra-Community acquisitions of goods and the supplies referred to in Article 11 made by non-resident taxable persons that have no fixed establishment in Portugal and have their seat, a fixed establishment or their domicile in another Member State, the obligations arising from this Regime may be fulfilled by a representative who is a taxable person for value added tax in the national territory and holds a power of attorney conferring sufficient powers.

1 - Relativamente às aquisições intracomunitárias de bens e às transmissões referidas no artigo 11.º, efectuadas por sujeitos passivos não residentes, sem estabelecimento estável em Portugal, e que disponham de sede, estabelecimento estável ou domicílio noutro Estado membro, as obrigações derivadas da aplicação do presente diploma podem ser cumpridas por um representante, sujeito passivo do imposto sobre o valor acrescentado no território nacional, munido de procuração com poderes bastantes.

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2. Non-resident taxable persons that have no fixed establishment in the national territory and do not have their seat, a fixed establishment or their domicile in another Member State are required to appoint a representative who is a taxable person for value added tax in the national territory and holds a power of attorney conferring sufficient powers.

2 - Os sujeitos passivos não residentes, sem estabelecimento estável em território nacional, e que não disponham de sede, estabelecimento estável ou domicílio noutro Estado-Membro, estão obrigados à nomeação de representante, sujeito passivo do imposto sobre o valor acrescentado no território nacional, munido de procuração com poderes bastantes.

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3. The representative referred to in the preceding paragraphs shall fulfil all the obligations arising from this Regime, including registration, and is the person liable for the tax due on the transactions carried out by the person represented.

3 - O representante a que se referem os números anteriores deve cumprir todas as obrigações decorrentes da aplicação do presente diploma, incluindo a do registo, e é devedor do imposto que se mostre devido pelas operações realizadas pelo representado.

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4. The taxable person not established in the national territory is jointly and severally liable with the representative for payment of the tax.

4 - O sujeito passivo não estabelecido em território nacional é solidariamente responsável com o representante pelo pagamento do imposto.

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5. The obligations arising from the taxation of supplies of goods following an intra-Community acquisition exempt under the conditions laid down in Article 15(2) shall be fulfilled by the acquirer of the goods, who is a taxable person registered for value added tax purposes in the national territory.

5 - As obrigações decorrentes da sujeição a imposto das transmissões de bens subsequentes à aquisição intracomunitária isenta nas condições previstas no n.º 2 do artigo 15.º devem ser cumpridas pelo adquirente dos bens, sujeito passivo registado no território nacional para efeitos de imposto sobre o valor acrescentado.

What we checked in this article

The distinction between the optional representative (non-established persons with a seat, fixed establishment or domicile in another Member State) and the mandatory one (all other non-established persons), the representative’s liability for the tax, the joint and several liability of the person represented and the obligations of the acquirer under Article 15(2) are retained.

Selling to EU customers? Article 24 may decide whether you charge VAT.

We register Portuguese companies for intra-EU trade, check VIES numbers and transport evidence for exempt supplies, file recapitulative statements and set up OSS for distance sales, in English. A written answer and a fixed quote within one working day.

Unofficial English translation prepared by BCA Portugal for reference. Only the Portuguese text published in the Diário da República has legal force. Editorial notes are ours and are not part of the statute.

Applying the law

Intra-EU VAT, without zero-rating surprises

An exempt intra-EU supply only holds if the VAT number, the transport evidence and the recapitulative statement line up. Tell us how your goods move; we set up the registration, the invoices and the filings.

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