Taxation of international executives
Are there social security/social insurance taxes in Portugal? If so, what are the rates for employers and employees?
Employer and employee
Type of insurance |
Employer Percent |
Employee Percent |
Total |
Social security* |
23.75% |
11.00% |
34.75% |
Total |
23.75% |
11.00% |
34.75% |
Some items may not be assessable to social security contributions such as the following:
There are three main types of exceptions to the payment of social security contributions in Portugal: those derived from the EU Rules 1408/71 and 2001/83 (EU residents and residents in third countries/jurisdictions where these regulations are applicable), those derived from Portugal’s social security treaties and those derived from internal rules in international assignments. In general terms, foreign employees assigned to work in Portugal for an estimated period of less than 1 year will continue to pay social security contributions in their home country/jurisdiction. Under these special assignment rules, the period of exemption of Portuguese contributions may be extended for a further year. Should authorities of the two countries/jurisdictions enter into an agreement the exemption can be granted initially for a longer period, but normally up to a maximum of 5 years. Some exemptions are also available for individuals working in more than one country/jurisdiction.
The Portuguese authorities have started to accept exemption in cases other than the two above referred. The exemption process is analyzed on a case-by-case basis.
According to the real estate taxation reform, gift and inheritance tax has been revoked since 1 January 2004. As a result, all actual and effective transfer of assets, located in the Portuguese territory, to individuals, will be liable to stamp tax at a 10 percent flat tax rate.
However, gifts (during lifetime or upon death) to the donor’s spouse, descendants and ascendants are tax-exempt.
Yes. Municipal property tax is levied on the patrimonial value of urban and non-urban property located in Portuguese territory and it is assessed annually considering the property's patrimonial taxable value. This tax is assessed on the value of the property, as determined for tax purposes. The tax rates are 0.8 percent for rural property and range from 0.3 percent to 0.45 percent for urban property.
Yes, value-added tax applies on the following:
There are three different VAT rates are as follows:
No.
Are there additional taxes in Portugal that may be relevant to the general assignee? For example, customs tax, excise tax, stamp tax, and so on.
Stamp tax
According to the real estate taxation reform, gift and inheritance tax has been revoked since 1 January 2004. As a result, all actual and effective transfer of assets, located in the Portuguese territory, to individuals, will be liable to stamp tax at a 10.8 percent flat tax rate..
Local taxes
There are no local taxes imposed on the income of individuals. There is, however, a local tax on immovable property as referred to above (Real estate tax).
Property transfer tax
A property transfer tax (IMT) is assessed on onerous transfer of ownership rights, or limited rights, in real estate located in Portuguese territory, as well as on legal actions economically comparable to these transmissions.
IMT is due, namely, in the following situations:
IMT is levied on the value of the act or of the contract or on the patrimonial value of the assets, whichever the highest.
The IMT rates are as follows.
Urban property for permanent dwelling purposes1 (EUR) |
Rates |
|
|
Marginal |
Average |
Until 92,407 |
0% |
0.0000% |
From 92,407 to 126,403 |
2% |
0.5379% |
From 126,403 to 172,348 |
5% |
1.7274% |
From 172,348 to 287,213 |
7% |
3.8361% |
From 287,213 to 574,323 |
8% |
- |
Between 574,323 and 1,000,000 |
Single rate of 6% |
|
Over 1,000,000 |
Single rate of 7.5% |
Acquisition of secondary habitation (EUR) |
Rates |
|
|
Marginal |
Average |
Until 92,407 |
1% |
0.0000% |
From 92,407 to 126,403 |
2% |
1.2689% |
From 126,403 to 172,348 |
5% |
2.2636% |
From 172,348 to 287,213 |
7% |
4.1578% |
From 287,213 to 550,836 |
8% |
0.0000% |
Between 550,836 and 1,000,000 |
Single rate of 6% |
|
Over 1,000,000 |
Single rate of 7.5% |
Acquisition of other property |
Rates |
Non-urban property |
5.0% |
Urban property not exclusively for residential purposes and other onerous acquisitions |
6.5% |
Urban and non-urban property purchased by a tax haven resident entity. |
10.0% |
Exemptions
Some exemptions may apply. For example
Is there a requirement to declare/report offshore assets (e.g. foreign financial accounts, securities) to the country/jurisdiction’s fiscal or banking authorities?
Resident taxpayers are required to identify any foreign bank accounts held (the IBAN and Swift code) in the income Portuguese tax return (specifically in appendix J), regardless of having received any income from such account or not.
1. In Madeira and Azores, the limits are multiplied by 1.25.
2. Exemptions conditioned to the prior submittal of a request thereof to the tax authorities and prior consent of the respective Municipality.
Disclaimer
All information contained in this publication is summarized by KPMG & Associados – SROC, SA, the Portuguese member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. The information contained in this publication is based on the Portuguese Personal Income Tax Code, enacted in 1989, updated as of January 2015 according to the Portuguese Personal Income Tax Reform as well as 2020 State Budget Law.
Copyright
© 2020 KPMG & Associados – SROC, SA, the Portuguese member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. For more detail about the structure of the KPMG global organization please visit https://home.kpmg/governance