Portugal Tax Planning, Compliance & Cross-Border Advisory for Expats
What Taxbordr is
Lisbon-based, English-speaking Portugal tax advisors for expats and cross-border families.
What we do
IFICI and NHR regime consulting (eligibility, application, and defence), residency assessment, Portugal tax compliance & filings (including Anexo J), double taxation treaty relief, and cross-border structuring.
Who it’s for
US, UK, South African, Canadian, and EU expats. Digital nomads. Freelancers. Business owners. Retirees. HNW individuals moving to or already living in Portugal.
What Taxbordr is not
A general accounting firm, immigration law practice, or relocation service. We focus exclusively on Portugal and international tax advisory.
The Cross-Border Tax Problems Expats Hit in Portugal
Residency trigger confusion
You’re moving to Portugal or you’ve just arrived, and you’re not sure whether you’ve already triggered tax residency. The 183-day rule sounds simple until you realise it’s not the only test. Get the start date wrong and you could face full-year worldwide tax exposure.
Two advisors, zero coordination
Your home-country accountant says one thing. Your Portugal accountant says another. Neither has looked at the other’s return. You’re the one facing double taxation when the treaty credits don’t match.
Multi-stream income, unclear reporting
Pensions, ISAs, RSUs, rental income, crypto, and more. You’re unsure how Portugal will tax each stream, what choices you should consider, or what you actually need to report on Anexo J.
IFICI/NHR regime risk
Year two compounds what year one ignored. Your IFICI application window closes. NHR status needs active defence. Miss a deadline or file incorrectly and you may lose tax optimization opportunities.
The cost of "I'll sort it later"
Your move to Portugal creates planning opportunities that only exist during the transition. Pre-arrival restructuring, timing of disposals, regime elections. Wait too long and some disappear entirely. What remains can usually be corrected retroactively, but at greater cost and complexity than planning it right the first time.
You planned the arrival but not the departure
Most people focus on what Portugal requires and overlook what their home country triggers when they leave. Exit taxes, deemed disposals, pension reporting changes, notification deadlines. Get the departure wrong and you may create problems in both jurisdictions before your first Portuguese filing is even due.
One Firm. Full-Scope. No Gaps.
What We Handle
Portugal Tax Residency & IFICI/NHR Advisory
Confirm your residency start date, protect your regime position, and document it defensibly.
Cross-Border Compliance & Treaty Relief
One consistent strategy instead of two conflicting returns.
Digital Nomad & Freelancer Tax Strategy
Know whether you need a Portuguese company before you pay for one.
Pre-Arrival & Departure Planning
The transition window creates options that close once you've settled. Plan both sides before either deadline hits.
Who We Work With
US, UK, South African, Canadian & EU Expats
Moved or moving to Portugal with income, assets, or pensions back home.
Digital Nomads & Freelancers
Working remotely from Portugal for clients or employers abroad
Business Owners Relocating to Portugal
Running or starting a business while managing a cross-border move
HNW Individuals & Retirees
Relocating with investment income, retirement funds, or complex portfolios
Who’s Behind Your Tax Position
Telmo Ramos is the founder and technical lead of Taxbordr. A licensed tax advisor registered with the Ordem dos Economistas (Cédula No. 16379), Telmo holds a Master’s degree in Taxation and international tax certificates from Luxembourg. He trained at KPMG Luxembourg on EU treaty work and at EY Lisbon on Portuguese domestic practice with foreign income dimensions. Every planning engagement, advisory opinion, and sign-off goes through him personally.
Taxbordr is not a generalist firm that occasionally handles expat returns. Portugal and Cross-border tax consulting is all we do. Big 4 methodology at boutique scale. Direct founder access. No junior handoffs. And a written deliverable you can share with any advisor, institution, or authority.
Join hundreds of expats from 15+ countries who stopped guessing and started planning
How It Works
Diagnose
Book a consultation. You leave with a Position Memo: your residency status, risks, opportunities, and next steps.
Plan
We build a detailed tax strategy — including formal tax memos where your situation demands it.
Protect
Ongoing compliance, deadline tracking, and defensive documentation if AT asks questions.
What Clients Say After Filing Season
Frequently Asked Questions
You may still have filing obligations in both countries. In many cases, tax treaties and foreign tax credit rules are designed to prevent full double taxation, but only if your filings are aligned correctly. We coordinate the Portugal side with your home-country position so you don’t overpay or misreport.
You can become Portuguese tax resident if you spend more than 183 days in a relevant 12-month period or if you maintain a home in Portugal as your habitual residence. Once resident, Portugal generally taxes your worldwide income. If you moved mid-year, your residency start date is critical.
The original NHR regime was repealed for new entrants from January 1, 2024. IFICI is now the main incentive route for eligible profiles. We assess your facts first, then confirm whether IFICI or another strategy is the right path.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. The right structure depends on residency status, income type, client location, and social security. We compare options side by side so your setup is both tax-efficient and compliant.
Yes, we coordinate directly with your home-country advisor so both filings follow one consistent cross-border strategy. This avoids common mismatches on treaty positions and foreign tax credits.
Pricing depends on scope: one-off strategy, annual filings, or full cross-border support. We define scope, deliverables, timeline, and fee before work starts so you know exactly what’s included.
Equity compensation often spans multiple jurisdictions depending on where you were resident during the vesting or exercise period. We map each tranche to the applicable treaty provisions and Portuguese domestic rules to determine the correct allocation, ensuring you don't pay tax on income that should be taxed elsewhere.
Latest Insights

Portugal Citizenship (2026)
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Portugal 2025-2029 Tax Plan
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