daisyman1951

Not being critical in any way - just really curious as to why so many day to day transactions require a FN. I appreciate many citizens share common names but to get a car MOT? Or is some one pulling my leg?

CHOPPER

Can't remember the last time I used my fiscal card and for a MOT you only need your car registration document.

mfesharne

I think they ask for the FN for a matriculation test but not for ordinary MOT tests....... or at least, that´s been my experience.

More generally, I think the reason they ask so often is they want to try to keep track of what you´re buying in relation to what income you're declaring.

As with most places in the world, Big Brother is watching!

liveaboard

A lot of retail transactions now require it by law; furniture purchases for instance.
The Portuguese tax office is trying to ensure the VAT gets paid.
Also it helps them convict tax dodgers; every transaction where the fiscal number is used is submitted to a central database. If your purchases exceed your stated income you'll have some explaining to do.

It is very Orwellian.

Domino

and yet no one complains about living in the uk and having a National Ins No along with an NHS number

here in andalucia we can book our gp appts online and part of the booking procedure is to provide the NIE (FN) and the INSS (NHS) numbers along with dob to double check the sign in.

surely FN is just a way of identifying the individual, although when I was younger we didn't have numbers because we all knew each other.

EMR

If you want aon official receipt for anythng ( Factura ) then you need to give your fiscal details.
We recently had a mnor accdent ( not our fault ) the GNR asked for my passport, I dd not have t wth me but I did have my fiiscal card.
I think this saved me from getting a fine as they could check my identity on the system if needed

robcarolyn

We have fiscal numbers for our Portuguese house but live in UK. How do you obtain a fiscal card? Is it only for PT residents?

bejaboz

We obtained ours from the Camera in the same situation as yourselves.

Mike

Not just for residents. If you own anything (house, car, etc) in PT you will have a NIF number. Maybe your lawyer obtained yours? If so I suspect they will have your card.
Your lawyer may also be listed as your fiscal representative for which they will charge a fee!
Your PT Will will be based around your NIF number as your house is registered against it.

Melissajrg

The reason they ask for your NIF is because you might want to claim for the tax back. You're entitled to claim tax back on hair dressers services, car and motorbike repairs and restaurant invoices at the end of the financial year. If you were self employed, depending on what you do, maybe more. Me and my husband log it in online on the financas website. When you claim your taxes at the end of the year certain things will be deductible

Troia

Not big brother just the reasons presented by Melissajrg and EMR.

You can buy using your birthday´s check from grand-mother...no one business

Troia

sorry double post