How this works
When you open activity as a freelancer, the tax authority asks for a code classifying what you do. For liberal professions that code comes from the article-151 CIRS table, approved by Portaria 1011/2001. It is a closed list of 90 entries. This tool holds the full list, in the consolidated version with the 2022 amendment — type what you do and it filters live. Nothing leaves your browser.
Frequently asked
When do I use this table vs. a CAE code?
The article-151 codes are for liberal professions — people who sell a service based on their qualification (doctor, programmer, designer, translator, trainer). If your activity is commercial or business (selling goods, restaurants, lodging, construction), you use a CAE code from the statistics office instead. You can hold both. When no listed profession fits, there is 1519 "Other service providers".
Does the code I pick change the tax I pay?
The code itself does not set the rate, but the category matters. Under the simplified regime, the coefficient applied to your income depends on the activity type — for instance, the listed article-151 professions are treated differently from generic service provision. Pick the code that honestly describes your work; misclassifying can cost you money or raise flags in an audit.
My profession is not on the list. What now?
The table is closed and has about 90 entries, so many modern jobs are not named explicitly. In those cases you use 1519 "Other service providers", the catch-all for unlisted services. If your work is clearly a business, the right route is a CAE code instead. When genuinely unsure, check with the tax authority or an accountant before submitting your start-of-activity declaration.
Where do I enter this code when opening activity?
On the Finanças portal, in the start-of-activity declaration (or in person at a tax office). The system asks for the article-151 table code and/or the CAE. You can declare more than one activity. Opening is free and can be done online with your portal credentials.
Is this list up to date?
Yes. It reproduces the consolidated version of Portaria 1011/2001 with the Portaria 23/2022 amendment (which added, e.g., "Conservator-restorer" and updated the artistic professions). It is the same list used in the start-of-activity declaration. Even so, the official source rules — check the Diário da República before deciding.
DISCLAIMER
This tool reproduces the article-151 CIRS table for reference and is no substitute for tax advice. Correctly classifying your activity can depend on details that only an accountant or the tax authority can confirm. When in doubt, check the official source (Diário da República) before filing your start-of-activity declaration. Not tax advice.