What this site covers
howto.pt is deliberately narrow: practical guides, calculators and reference tools for living, working and paying tax in Portugal. Taxes and IRS, Segurança Social, housing, residency and visas, day-to-day costs. Nothing outside that scope — if a topic doesn't help someone deal with Portuguese bureaucracy or money, it doesn't belong here.
How pages are made and verified
- Every rate, bracket, threshold and rule is traced to an official source — Portal das Finanças, Segurança Social, Diário da República, AIMA, Banco de Portugal, INE — and each page lists its sources at the bottom, with links, so you can check them yourself.
- Calculators are tested against worked examples (including the official simulators, where they exist) before going live, and each page states the tax year or legal regime it applies to.
- When something is an estimate or a simplification, the page says so explicitly — every tool carries a disclaimer describing its limits.
- All pages are written and checked by Elijah, the site's author. Who that is, and why he builds these tools, is on the about page.
Dates and updates
Each guide and tool shows an “updated” date. That date only changes when the content is actually reviewed — after a State Budget (Orçamento do Estado), a change in law, or a rate revision — never just to look fresh. Pages tied to values that change on a schedule (interest-rate caps, contribution bases, minimum wage) are rechecked when the issuing authority publishes new figures.
Corrections
Mistakes get fixed, fast and without drama. If you spot a wrong number, an outdated rule or a broken calculation, write to ola@howto.pt — reports are usually reviewed within a few days, the page is corrected and its updated date changes. Being correctable is the whole point of publishing sources.
Independence and funding
Everything on howto.pt is free, with no accounts and no paywall. The site currently runs no ads, no affiliate links and no sponsored content; nobody pays to be mentioned, linked or ranked. If that ever changes, paid content will be clearly labelled and this page updated first.
What this site is not
howto.pt is not an accounting firm, a law office or an immigration agency, and nothing here is formal advice. The tools exist to orient you and save you time. For decisions that matter, confirm with the relevant authority or a qualified professional — every page repeats this in its disclaimer.
Contact
Questions, corrections or suggestions: ola@howto.pt · more about the author on the about page.
Last updated: 6 July 2026.