In this article
CAE 62201 identifies computer consultancy activities in CAE Rev.4, the Portuguese classification in force since 2025 under Decree-Law no. 9/2025 of 12 February. It covers advice on systems — planning, designing and overseeing technology decisions — and is distinct from programming, ongoing infrastructure management and equipment resale. Because it affects funding applications, public tenders and insurance, it should be confirmed on SICAE before it is needed.
Three reasons you may be looking up this code
- Incorporation You are setting up a company and need to choose its main activity.
- Review The entry into force of CAE Rev.4 changed the numbering the company used.
- Application or tender The form requires the correct code and there can be no doubt.
What exactly CAE 62201 is
The CAE — the Portuguese Classification of Economic Activities — is the code that communicates a company's main activity to the Tax Authority, Social Security, the National Statistics Institute (INE) and any body that needs to know which sector it operates in.
62201 corresponds to computer consultancy activities. It covers companies whose main business is advising organisations on their systems: infrastructure planning, choice of solutions, architecture and technical oversight of decisions.
Why the numbering changed
CAE Rev.4 replaced Rev.3 through Decree-Law no. 9/2025. It was not a simple renumbering: the revision followed the evolution of the sector. Activities that barely existed in 2007, such as cloud and managed security, gained enough weight to be treated separately.
If your company's classification has not been reviewed since 2025, check it. An outdated code goes unnoticed for months and usually causes problems at the worst moment — in the middle of a funding application or a tender.
Advising versus executing: the deciding criterion
62201 covers technical advice. In business practice, it includes:
- Analysis and architecture Needs assessment and systems design.
- Planning Infrastructure and migrations.
- Choices Technology, licensing and suppliers.
- Risk Assessment of risks and business continuity.
- Oversight Technical supervision of digital transformation projects.
The line that matters is between advising and executing or operating. Whoever designs the solution fits here. Whoever develops software, manages infrastructure on an ongoing basis — like an MSP providing managed IT services — or installs equipment may need other codes, or to declare more than one.
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Boundaries with neighbouring codes
Computer activities are concentrated in division 62, and that is where almost all the doubts arise:
| Comparison | Where the difference lies |
|---|---|
| Consultancy vs. programming | Developing bespoke software is not the same as advising on systems. |
| Consultancy vs. infrastructure management | Operating clients' servers and networks on an ongoing basis is distinct from advising on them. |
| IT vs. trade | Anyone reselling equipment as their main activity belongs to another division, even if they provide technical services. |
Many IT companies do several of these things. In that case, the activity with the highest turnover is declared as the main one and the others as secondary. Declaring only one when there are several is a frequent and avoidable mistake.
Practical consequences of a wrong code
- Incentives Most programmes define eligibility by CAE; a wrong code excludes the application before the project is even read.
- Public tenders Specifications often require an activity compatible with the contract's subject matter.
- Insurance The professional indemnity policy follows the declared activity, and a discrepancy can be invoked when a claim is made.
- Sector obligations Collective bargaining and some reporting obligations vary with the activity.
- Commercial trust More and more clients check a supplier's CAE before contracting critical services.
Where and how to confirm
The official reference is SICAE, the information system for the Portuguese Classification of Economic Activities, which allows you to look up codes and each company's registered classification. The explanatory notes to CAE Rev.4 published by INE define what each code includes and excludes.
- Plan ahead — confirm the code before you need it, not on the day of the application.
- Declare everything — if you carry out several activities, register them all rather than forcing a single code.
- Check twice — with your accountant and with the official source, because interpretations differ.
Note: this content is for information only and does not replace accounting or legal advice. For the formal classification, consult SICAE and your certified accountant.
Frequently asked questions
What is CAE 62201?
It is the code for computer consultancy activities in CAE Rev.4, in force since 2025. It covers systems planning and design, hardware and software consultancy and technology integration, when provided as advice rather than as software development or management of third-party infrastructure.
What is the difference between 62201 and 62020?
62201 is the consultancy code in Rev.4. 62020 belonged to Rev.3 and remains in many companies' older records, which causes confusion in applications and tenders. If the company certificate still shows a Rev.3 code, check the correspondence on SICAE.
And the difference from 62090?
62090 covers other information technology activities that are neither consultancy nor programming, typically residual technical services. Those who advise, design and oversee execution fall under consultancy; those who carry out one-off technical tasks tend towards 62090.
Where can I confirm my company's CAE?
On SICAE. It is the official source and prevails over any interpretation, including your accountant's or that of older records.
Does a wrong CAE really have consequences?
It does: it affects eligibility for incentives and public tenders and can affect insurance and sector obligations. Correcting it is cheap; finding out late is expensive.
Can a company have more than one CAE?
Yes: one main code and several secondary ones, for the activities actually carried out. What should not happen is ongoing invoicing of an activity that is not covered by any declared code.
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