📦 What is SAF-T (PT)?
The SAF-T (PT) is a digital file in XML format used in Portugal to send your company's tax and accounting data to the Autoridade Tributária (AT).
It was created with a clear goal: to facilitate inspections and ensure accounting transparency.
Additionally, it is mandatory for most companies and is part of a European regulation driven by the OECD.
🔧 How does it work?
The SAF-T for invoicing includes information about:
invoices
credit notes
receipts and other tax documents.
You must send it every month to the Autoridade Tributária, by the 5th of the following month at the latest.
This submission is mandatory for all companies using invoicing software certified by the AT.
⚖ Legal basis
The regulations governing SAF-T (PT) in Portugal are found in:
Portaria n.º 321-A/2007 – Technical format of the file;
Portaria n.º 302/2016 – Functional content of the accounting SAF-T;
Decreto-Lei n.º 198/2012 – Mandates the monthly submission of invoices;
Despacho n.º 8632/2014 – Defines mandatory fields;
General State Budgets 2020-2021 – Introduce the obligation of accounting SAF-T for the IES (effective from 2024).
🏢 Who is required to send it?
The following are required to send SAF-T (PT):
companies with headquarters or permanent activity in Portugal;
those using certified invoicing software;
IRC or IRS taxpayers with organized accounting;
certified accountants submitting the IES (Simplified Business Information).
🖥 How does it work and is configured in our system?
Request for validation code (mandatory)
Before issuing tax documents, you must request from the AT the series validation code.
Who requests it? → You, directly on the AT's web.
The data you need to provide are:
company name;
type of document (invoice, invoice-receipt, credit note);
series to be used;
start date;
Start of the sequential number of the series to be used - consider it must always start at 0, as no invoices have been issued in the system previously.
Avantio software code for connection: 2810.
For more information from the AT click here.
🧩 What is the ATCUD code?
Since 2022, all tax documents must include a special code: ATCUD.
It consists of:
series validation code (granted by the AT);
document sequential number.
Example: ATCUD: ABCD1234-0000001
Note that this code must appear on all pages of the document, always above the QR code if there is one.
🛠 Configuration in Avantio
Company name configuration
Where do you do it? → Menu: Invoicing > Registration and editing of tax data.
There you can:
register your company's tax data, always verifying if the information provided is completely correct (for more information, click here);
add series (always starting with numbering 0) and validation codes for each series;
⚠ Remember: once documents (invoices, invoice-receipts, etc.) are issued, you cannot modify the linked tax data.
Set up invoicing rule
Where do you do it? → Menu: Invoicing > Invoicing rule.
There you can:
Set up invoicing rules according to how your company operates, whether invoicing the tourist or the owner.
Indicate if the default invoice is to the end customer YES or NO, or maintain the definition from the customer file. More information here.
Invoice as owner
To invoice the tourist as the owner, you must first request the data indicated above for your company name and thus obtain the validation codes for the series to be used.
To learn how to configure the owner's company name, click here.
Invoice templates
The invoice templates for those using the SAF-T module are not structurally customizable; only the logo and plain text can be edited and modified.
✅ Benefits of this integration
Comply with Portuguese legislation without complications.
Assists in the monthly submission to the AT (Important to note that the submission is not automatic but manual).
Avoid errors and potential penalties.
Facilitates audits and the work of your accountant.
⚠ IMPORTANT: With Saf-T activated in the account, it is not possible to delete any document once issued.