Portuguese office words from Portugal, explained
The words you see in official letters in Portugal, in plain English.
- abono de família
- Child benefit.
- agente de execução
- An enforcement agent who collects court debts, for example by seizing salary.
- apoio judiciário
- Legal aid. Segurança Social can pay for a lawyer and court costs if your income is low.
- audiência prévia
- Your right to give your side before a final decision.
- auto de contraordenação
- An offence notice, for example for speeding or parking.
- autorização de residência
- Residence permit.
- carta registada
- Registered letter. You get proof that it was sent.
- citação
- Official notice that a court case or enforcement was started against you. Deadlines start from it.
- coima
- A fine for an administrative offence, for example speeding or a late tax return.
- contestação
- Your written defence in a court case.
- convocatória
- An official invitation to an appointment.
- deferimento
- Approval of your request.
- defesa
- Your written explanation against a fine or accusation.
- despejo
- Eviction.
- dias úteis
- Working days — weekends and public holidays don’t count.
- execução fiscal
- Forced collection of unpaid tax by the tax office, for example by seizing salary or bank money.
- Finanças
- The tax office (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira, AT).
- IMI
- Yearly property tax for the owner of a house or flat.
- impugnação judicial
- Challenging a tax bill in court. Usually within 3 months.
- indeferimento
- Refusal of your request.
- injunção
- A quick court procedure for a debt. You have 15 days to pay or oppose.
- IRS
- Personal income tax (imposto sobre o rendimento das pessoas singulares).
- IUC
- Yearly car tax, paid in the month the car was first registered.
- Multibanco
- The Portuguese cash machine and payment network. You pay bills with an entity number (entidade) and a reference (referência).
- NIF
- Tax identification number (número de identificação fiscal). A 9-digit personal number you need for almost everything in Portugal.
- NISS
- Social security number (número de identificação da segurança social).
- nota de cobrança
- A tax bill with the amount, the deadline and a payment reference.
- nota de liquidação
- The tax office’s calculation of your tax: a refund or tax to pay.
- notificação
- An official letter that tells you about a decision or a step in a process.
- oposição
- A formal objection, for example against an enforcement or an injunção.
- pagamento em prestações
- Paying a debt in monthly parts.
- pagamento voluntário
- Paying a fine early, usually at the minimum amount.
- penhora
- Seizure of money or goods to pay a debt — for example part of your salary.
- Portal das Finanças
- The tax office website. You can see letters, pay and object there.
- prazo
- Deadline or time limit.
- prescrição
- When a debt or fine is too old to be collected.
- reclamação graciosa
- A free complaint to the tax office against a tax bill.
- recurso hierárquico
- An appeal to a higher level of the same office.
- referência para pagamento
- The number you use to pay a bill at a Multibanco machine, in home banking or online.
- renda
- Rent.
- restituição
- Paying back money you received but weren’t entitled to.
- senhorio
- Landlord.
- subsídio de desemprego
- Unemployment benefit.