Some of you may have heard for some time rumours that offshore companies, holding properties in Portugal are under attack by the Portuguese tax authorities.
Earlier this year it became evident that in the Portuguese state budget, proposals were made to make offshores less attractive to hold.
The legal regulations are very specific when buying a property in Portugal; however, it is always advisable to use qualified legal advice from a lawyer, solicitor or experienced person in this field.
Understand how to apply for a mortgage in Portugal, and the types of mortgage available… For those who have a Portuguese Residency Card (Cartão de Residencia), a Portuguese Tax Code (Numero Fiscal de Contribuinte), a Portuguese bank account (Conta Bancaria em Portugal), proof of regular income and/or a contract (Contrato) with an international or national company in Portugal, and a good credit rating, it is fairly easy to take out a mortgage.
THE SOVEREIGN PORTUGUESE PROPERTY PURCHASE PLAN Since 2002 there have been various reforms of property taxation by the Portuguese authorities, including the introduction of a penalty tax rate which increased the level of Municipal Tax (rates) payable in respect of properties held by companies included on the Portuguese Finance Ministry “blacklist”. That tax rate is now set at a flat 7.5% of the “Valor Patrimonial” (Rateable Value) making the tax payable unacceptable for most properties. The same changes also imposed a tax on a presumed rental income calculated at 1/15th of the “Valor Patrimonial” in the case of a property held by such a blacklisted company.
