In Portugal, all legal entities, such as companies, associations, and foundations, must have a Corporate Identification Number (Número de Identificação de Pessoa Coletiva – NIPC) in order to carry out any economic activity. This number is mandatory and serves as a unique identifier in several areas, including tax, accounting, legal, and administrative matters.
It is an essential element for formalizing an entity and for complying with legal obligations within the country.
It is important to distinguish the NIPC from the Tax Identification Number (Número de Identificação Fiscal – NIF). While the NIF is used to identify individuals and certain legal entities that are not registered in the National Registry of Legal Entities (RNPC), the NIPC applies only to entities subject to commercial registration. Additionally, the NIF is issued by the Tax and Customs Authority, whereas the NIPC is issued by the RNPC.
The NIPC is assigned after the entity is registered in the Central File of Legal Entities (Ficheiro Central de Pessoas Coletivas – FCPC). For entities requiring mandatory commercial registration, this process is automatic and electronic, and the number is assigned upon completion of the commercial registration. This procedure ensures that all active entities are legally identified before the Portuguese authorities.
At OportoAccounting, we have a team specialized in this type of service, assisting all entrepreneurs looking to invest and establish a company in Portugal. We provide full assistance throughout the entire process of obtaining the Corporate Identification Number (NIPC), commercial registration, and fulfilling tax and legal obligations, ensuring that every step is handled with precision and efficiency. Our mission is to simplify the bureaucracy and allow our clients to focus on growing their business.
