Guarda Fiscal

Fiscal Guard
*Guarda Fiscal*
Fiscal Guard; Guarda Fiscal
Abbreviation	GF
Motto	Portuguese: Pela Pátria e pela Lei; For the Motherland and for the Law
Agency overview
Formed	September 17, 1885
Preceding agency	Barrier guards (Guardas barreiras);
Dissolved	1993
Superseding agency	Fiscal Brigade of the Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR)
Employees	8500 military; 100 civilian
Jurisdictional structure
National agency	Portugal
Operations jurisdiction	Portugal
Governing body	Ministry of Finance (Portugal)
General nature	Gendarmerie; Civilian police;
Specialist jurisdictions	Customs, excise and gambling.; Taxation; National border patrol, security, and integrity.;
Operational structure
Headquarters	Lisbon
Elected officer responsible	Several, Minister of Finance;
Agency executive	Several, Commander-General;

The Guarda Fiscal (Fiscal Guard in English) was a Portuguese special military force, tasked with the border and maritime control of people and goods and the law enforcement, particularly in the fields of taxation and customs.

In time of peace, the Guarda Fiscal was under the authority of the Ministry of Finance. In case of war, the Guarda Fiscal would pass for the authority of the Portuguese Armed Forces, forming combat units that would be used primarily in the border defense.

The Guarda Fiscal was formed on September 17, 1885, based on the Barrier Guards detached from the former Royal Guard of the Police (ancestor of the present National Republican Guard) for the tax and customs service. In 1993, the Guarda Fiscal was dissolved as an independent corps, becoming the Fiscal Brigade of the National Republican Guard (GNR). In 2009, the Fiscal Brigade was divided into the current Fiscal Action and Coastal Control units of the GNR.

See also