Biography
Catarina A Balona is a Director in EY Portugal’s Indirect Tax practice, with extensive experience advising Portuguese and multinational clients on complex VAT, excise duty and broader indirect tax matters. Her work combines technical tax advisory with a strong focus on the practical and operational impact of tax rules on businesses.
She advises clients across a wide range of sectors, including consumer products, retail, automotive, transport and digital businesses, supporting them on VAT compliance and reporting, invoicing requirements, e-invoicing and digital reporting, as well as on the design and implementation of indirect tax processes. Her experience also includes projects for EU institutions in the context of the VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) initiative, with a particular focus on e-invoicing, digital reporting requirements and the associated business transformation implications for businesses operating across the EU.
Alongside client advisory work, Catarina has significant experience in economic and tax policy projects for industry associations and other stakeholders. Her work includes the analysis of the economic and fiscal impact of indirect taxes and the preparation of technically robust materials to support engagement with policymakers and other relevant stakeholders. Her experience includes projects for ACAP, the Portuguese Automobile Association, focusing on the Portuguese vehicle taxation framework, including Vehicle Registration Tax (ISV) and Annual Circulation Tax (IUC), as well as work for the National Association of Spirits (ANEBE) concerning excise duty revenues and policy options for the taxation of spirits.
Catarina also contributes to technical publications, tax alerts, national tax guides and VAT-related thought leadership and regularly participates as a speaker in conferences, seminars and technical events on indirect taxation and tax policy. Her practice has a strong focus on the transformation of indirect taxation, particularly the convergence of VAT policy, e-invoicing, digital reporting and business transformation within the evolving European tax landscape.
She advises clients across a wide range of sectors, including consumer products, retail, automotive, transport and digital businesses, supporting them on VAT compliance and reporting, invoicing requirements, e-invoicing and digital reporting, as well as on the design and implementation of indirect tax processes. Her experience also includes projects for EU institutions in the context of the VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) initiative, with a particular focus on e-invoicing, digital reporting requirements and the associated business transformation implications for businesses operating across the EU.
Alongside client advisory work, Catarina has significant experience in economic and tax policy projects for industry associations and other stakeholders. Her work includes the analysis of the economic and fiscal impact of indirect taxes and the preparation of technically robust materials to support engagement with policymakers and other relevant stakeholders. Her experience includes projects for ACAP, the Portuguese Automobile Association, focusing on the Portuguese vehicle taxation framework, including Vehicle Registration Tax (ISV) and Annual Circulation Tax (IUC), as well as work for the National Association of Spirits (ANEBE) concerning excise duty revenues and policy options for the taxation of spirits.
Catarina also contributes to technical publications, tax alerts, national tax guides and VAT-related thought leadership and regularly participates as a speaker in conferences, seminars and technical events on indirect taxation and tax policy. Her practice has a strong focus on the transformation of indirect taxation, particularly the convergence of VAT policy, e-invoicing, digital reporting and business transformation within the evolving European tax landscape.
- Year joined firm: 2013
Recent matter / case highlights
- EU institution – ViDA, e-invoicing and business transformation
- Whom advised: European Union institution
- Capacity: Indirect Tax / VAT adviser, supporting a project in the context of the VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) initiative.
- Matter: Advised on the evolution of e-invoicing and digital reporting requirements within the EU and their practical and operational implications for businesses.
- Matter value: Not publicly disclosed.
- Outcome / public profile nuance: Contributed to a strategic EU-level project at the intersection of VAT policy, e-invoicing, digital reporting and business transformation.
- ACAP – Automotive taxation (ISV and IUC)
- Whom advised: ACAP – Associação Automóvel de Portugal.
- Capacity: Tax policy and indirect taxation adviser.
- Matter: Advised on the Portuguese automotive taxation framework, focusing on Vehicle Registration Tax (ISV) and Annual Circulation Tax (IUC).
- Matter value: N/A – strategic/tax policy advisory engagement.
- Outcome / public profile nuance: Supported evidence-based discussion around the future of Portuguese vehicle taxation and the transition towards a sustainable taxation model.
- ANEBE – Excise duties and fiscal policy
- Whom advised: ANEBE – National Association of Spirits.
- Capacity: Indirect Tax / Excise Duty and tax policy adviser.
- Matter: Advised on economic and fiscal analysis concerning excise duties applicable to alcoholic beverages.
- Matter value: N/A – strategic/tax policy advisory engagement.
- Outcome / public profile nuance: Provided technical and quantitative support for evidence-based engagement on Portuguese excise duty policy.
- Multinational businesses – VAT digitalisation and operating-model transformation
- Whom advised: Portuguese and multinational businesses across sectors including consumer products, transport, retail and digital businesses.
- Capacity: Indirect Tax / VAT adviser.
- Matter: Advised on complex VAT and invoicing matters arising from cross-border operating models, including Portuguese invoicing requirements, certified invoicing software, e-invoicing, digital reporting and VAT implications.
- Matter value: Not publicly disclosed.
- Outcome / public profile nuance: Supported clients in translating complex Portuguese and EU VAT requirements into workable operational models.
Key practice areas
- Compliance management
- Business model optimisation
- Cross-border project management
- Economic modelling
- Policy design
- Dispute resolution
- Audit defence
- Audit support
- Pre-litigation
- Indirect tax
- Customs
- GST
- Supply chains
- VAT
- Tax advisory
- International tax advisory
- Tax consulting
- Transfer pricing
- Economic modelling
Sector expertise
- Corporate tax matters
- Environmental
- Value chains
- Agriculture
- Automotive
- Consumer goods and services
- Energy
- Food and beverage
- Government and public policy
- Healthcare
- Industrials
- Pharmaceutical and life sciences
- Shipping
- Tourism
- Transport
- Utilities
Education / Alumni
- Master Degree in Law and Legal Science, University of Lisbon, School of Law (2023)
- Master’s Degree in Law and Legal Science, University of Lisbon, School of Law (2014)
- Law Degree, University of Lisbon, School of Law (2012)
- Sales and Negotiation Program, Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics (2025)
- Leadership Executive Program, Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics (2022)
- III Intensive Course on Administrative and Tax Procedure, IDEFF (2020)
- III Postgraduate Course in Intellectual Law, APDI (2012)
- Accounting and Taxation Course with IT Applied, in accordance with the SNC (Portuguese Accounting Standards) – SAGE Management Software, CERTFORM (2012)
Address:
Tel:+351 93 791 2267
Email:Contact this practitioner
Website:https://www.ey.com/pt_pt/people/catarina-anjo-balona
Rua Correia Teles nr 15, 1dto
Lisboa, Lisboa, 1350-091
Portugal