The tax office tell me I need either a formal UK address (driving licence for example), or I need to go to the town hall and pay €15 to register at a Portuguese address before being issued a number.

My question is; is there any difference? i.e. Would a fiscal number from a UK address mean I pay a different tax rate as a non-resident, or is a tax number simply a tax number?

Thanks.

No, a tax number is not simply a tax number and it is important that you keep the tax office informed as to which you are.

Thank you.

I'll ask more questions at the tax office Monday. I suspected it was similar to the UK with people being issued an 'emergency' number as a temporary measure. Tax office people in Lisbon didn't really want to answer my questions. I need to improve my Portuguese quickly!

Yes - it's not a temporary number or anything, though and as far as I know, the numbers issued are from the same sequence, resident or no at the time of issue.

It's just that there's an indicator on your record to say whether you are currently resident. That has implications tax-wise in various circumstances.

OK. Thanks again.

I have budgeted for a full day of queuing and question asking tomorrow. I shall report back.

Seems many people posting on this forum are just turning around secondhand bullshit.

Not you Red Eric. Thanks.

I shall return with a low down.