How to Get Your IRS Tax Certificates from the Portal das Finanças
The IRS tax return (Modelo 3) and the settlement note are two of the most requested documents in a mortgage application. Here's where to find both on the Finance Portal, in a few minutes.
When a bank reviews a mortgage application, it wants to know not just what you earn, but whether that income has actually been settled with the Portuguese tax authority. That's why, alongside your filed tax return, banks almost always ask for the settlement note too — the document proving the State has processed that return. Both live in the same place: the Portal das Finanças. Here's how to reach each one in a few clicks.
IRS Modelo 3 — your filed tax return
The Modelo 3 is the annual tax return you (or your accountant) submitted for the previous year. It's proof of the income you declared and your tax bracket.
- Go to the Portal das Finanças and log in with your NIF and access password (or Chave Móvel Digital).
- In the search bar, type "IRS".
- Choose "Obter comprovativos" ("Get certificates").
- Select the tax year the bank requested — usually the most recently filed one — and download it as a PDF.
If you haven't filed that year's return yet, this is also the moment to do it: without a filed return, there's no certificate to generate.
IRS settlement note — proof it was processed
The settlement note is different: it's not the return itself, but confirmation that the tax authority has processed it, with the final calculation (refund, amount due, or zero). This is usually the document that takes longest to become available — typically a few weeks after filing — which is why some banks are happy to start the initial review without it and only ask for it closer to the offer stage.
- On the Portal das Finanças, go back to the "IRS" area.
- Choose "Aceder" ("Access"), then "Consultar Declaração" ("View return").
- Select the relevant year — the settlement note appears as soon as processing is complete.
- Download it as a PDF, the same way as the return itself.
What if the settlement note isn't available yet?
That's common, especially in the first months of the year. If your mortgage process is still at an early stage, let your broker know: in many cases it's possible to move forward with just the filed return and your most recent payslips, submitting the settlement note as soon as it's ready.
Having both documents ready — the return and the settlement note — before you start talking to banks saves unnecessary back-and-forth later in the process. If you're unsure what's still missing from your file, a mortgage broker can help confirm exactly what each bank will ask for.
