We understand it can be concerning to receive your official NIF document and find an error in the information. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or worry this may cause.
Rest assured, this is something that can occasionally happen, and we're here to help clarify the situation and the next steps.
Why Do Errors Occur?
When applying for your NIF, AnchorLess ensures that we submit the exact information you provide to us. However, errors can sometimes occur during the data entry process by the Portuguese Tax Authorities (Finanças).
The Most Important Thing: Your NIF Number is Correct & Usable!
Despite any inaccuracies in the supporting details (like name spelling or address), the NIF number assigned to you is correct and will remain the same. You can begin using this NIF number for any purposes you require, such as opening a bank account or other administrative tasks.
What We Do When an Error is Identified
If you spot an error, please inform us. Here’s how we generally handle corrections:
We will promptly communicate the necessary corrections to our legal partners.
They will then officially request a correction from the Finanças.
Once we receive the amended NIF document, we will immediately send it to you.
Understanding Different Types of Errors & Solutions
Error in Your Name ("Nome Completo") or Sex ("Sexo")
Action: If you notice an inaccuracy here, please let our team know. We will then take care of requesting a correction from the Finanças on your behalf.
What to expect: We will send you the corrected NIF document as soon as we receive it from the authorities.
Error in Your Address ("Morada"):
This is a common occurrence, and the approach depends on your situation:If AnchorLess is your Tax Representative:
It's quite common for the Finanças to make typos in foreign addresses. Crucially, the Finanças generally do not accept requests to correct minor address errors on the initial NIF document when a tax representative is assigned.
This is because all official tax correspondence, including the physical letter for your Portal das Finanças password, will be sent to your tax representative's address (our lawyer's office in this case), not the address printed on your NIF document.
You will not miss any important communications due to this type of address error. Your Portal das Finanças password will be processed as usual (sent to our lawyers and then forwarded to you by email, as explained in our "When will I receive my password to Portal das Finanças?" article).
The address listed in the "Residência" box on your NIF is not critical for initial official communications when you have a tax representative. We can usually only request a correction if the "País resid." (Country of residence) is entirely wrong.
Once you have a permanent address in Portugal: You can update your address directly via the Portal das Finanças once you have your access password. You can find instructions here.
How Long Do Corrections Take?
For corrections that are processed (like name or sex):
It typically takes a few days to a week or sometimes longer for the Finanças to process corrections.
The Finanças can experience periods of high demand, and unfortunately, rectifying these data entry errors might not always be their immediate priority, even if the mistake was on their end.
We will send reminders to our legal team and do our best to expedite, but the final timeline rests with the Finanças. We will keep you informed of any significant updates.
What You Should Do:
Verify your NIF document carefully as soon as you receive it.
Inform us if you notice any errors, specifying what is incorrect.
Remember your NIF number is valid for immediate use.
We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work with the Finanças to resolve any inaccuracies. Our goal is to ensure your details are correctly registered, even if the initial document has a hiccup.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.