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Taxation |
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An aspect of fiscal policy |
Taxes in Portugal are levied by both the national and regional governments of Portugal. Tax revenue in Portugal stood at 34.9% of GDP in 2018.[1] The most important revenue sources include the income tax, social security contributions, corporate tax and the value added tax, which are all applied at the national level.
Employment income earned is subject to a progressive income tax, which applies to all who are in the workforce. Furthermore, a long list of tax allowances can be deducted, including a general deduction, health expenses, life and health insurance, and education expenses. The personal income taxation system is as follows:[2]
Taxable income | Applicable Tax Rate | ||
---|---|---|---|
Portuguese mainland | Autonomous Region of Madeira | Autonomous Region of Azores | |
Up to €7,703 | 13% | 10.15% | 10.15% |
€7,703 to €11,623 | 18% | 14.7% | 14.7% |
€11,623 to €16,472 | 23% | 18.55% | 18.55% |
€16,472 to €21,321 | 26% | 19.95% | 19.95% |
€21,321 to €27,146 | 32.75% | 29.75% | 24.5% |
€27,146 to €39,791 | 37% | 33.67% | 25,9% |
€39,791 to €51,997 | 43.5% | 42.2% | 30.45% |
€51,997 to €81,199 | 45% | 43.65% | 31.5% |
Above €81,199 | 48% | 47.52% | 33.6% |
Under the Investment Tax Code, approved on September 23 2009,[3] a new type of residency, for tax purposes was created under the Personal Income Tax Code, called non-habitual residency (NHR). This new tax residency type was created in order to attract to Portugal high-skilled professionals and pensioners obtaining foreign income.[4]
A person, regardless of their nationality, may apply for registration as a non-habitual resident if the following conditions are fulfilled:[3][4][5]
Type of Income | Source of Income | Taxation | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Portuguese mainland | Autonomous Region of Madeira | Autonomous Region of Azores | ||
Employment Income | Foreign | Taxation exemption on employment income is granted if the income is subject to taxation in the source country, in accordance with the applicable Double Taxation Agreement, or are considered not to be derived from a Portuguese source. | ||
High-Added Value Job performed in Portugal | Flat tax of 20% | Flat tax of 16% | ||
Any other job performed in Portugal | Normal progressive tax rates | |||
Pensions | Foreign | Pension income obtained by non habitual residents abroad, which is, for the same portion which was considered taxable, not considered tax deductible in Portugal, is taxed at a 10% flat rate. | ||
Portugal | Normal progressive tax rates | |||
Self employment, obtained through high added value activities of a scientific, artistic or technical nature (see below), or from intellectual or industrial property, as well as, from providing information regarding an experiment carried out in the commercial, industrial or scientific areas | Foreign | Exempt from taxation if alternatively:
| ||
Portugal | Flat tax of 20% | Flat tax of 16% | ||
Capital Income | Foreign | Exempt from taxation if alternatively:
| ||
Portugal | Flat 28% | |||
Real Estate Income | Foreign | Exempt from taxation if alternatively:
| ||
Portugal | Flat 28% | |||
Capital Gains | Foreign | Exempt from taxation if alternatively:
| ||
Portugal | Normal progressive tax rates |
Under Ministerial Order issued by the Ministry of Finance, the follow jobs are subject to flat personal income tax of 20%:[5][8][9]
NHR status holders registered up to 2019 | NHR status holders registered from 2020 |
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The corporate tax rate applicable to companies in Portugal may vary, depending on which part of the Portuguese territory said companies are incorporated and domiciled.[10]
Type of entity | Portuguese mainland | Autonomous Region of Madeira | Autonomous Region of Azores |
---|---|---|---|
Resident entities and permanent establishments of non-resident entities | 21% | 14.7% | 14.7% |
Resident entities characterized as a small or medium enterprises, on the first € 25 000 of taxable profit | 17% | 11.9% | 11.9% |
Companies incorporated and headquartered in Madeira can apply for an International Business Centre (MIBC) license and, granted that they comply with substance requirements, benefit from a corporate tax rate of 5% on the taxable profit derived from economic activities engaged with non-resident entities or entities duly licensed within the MIBC.[11][12]
Three different VAT rates apply: normal, intermediate and reduced. There is a general rate of 23% (normal rate) for luxury goods, decorative plants, cut flowers, utensils and other equipment for firefighting and fire prevention,[13] followed by a reduced rate of 13% for ordinary wine, spring, mineral, medicinal and carbonated water, and tickets for cultural events. This is followed by a further reduced rate of 6% on cereals, meat, shellfish, fruit, vegetables, and other essential foods, books, newspapers, medicines, passenger transport and hotel accommodation.[14] In 2014, the government introduced the fatura da sorte ("Lucky bill"), a lottery of tax-free cash and luxury cars awarded among consumers with VAT bills. The goal is to bring into the formal economy the many unregistered and untaxed purchases.[citation needed]
The VAT rates in Madeira are 22% (normal rate), 12% (intermediate rate) and 5% (reduced rate).[15][16]
The Azores has lower applicable VAT rates of 16%, 9% and 4%.[17] Businesses with revenue of less than 10,000 Euros per year are exempt from VAT.
All employment income is subject to social security contributions.[18]
Type of Employee | Contribution Supported by the Employer | Contribution Supported by Employee | Total Contributions |
---|---|---|---|
General Employee | 23.75% | 11% | 34.75% |
Members Statutory Governing Bodies | 20.3% | 9.3% | 29.6% |
Members Statutory Governing Bodies who exercise managing functions | 23.75% | 11% | 34.75% |
Home workers | 20.3% | 9.3% | 29.6% |
Professional Sportsmen | 22.3% | 11% | 33.3% |
Very-Short Term Contract Worker | 26.1% | - | 26.1% |
Worker suspended (by agreement) for pre-retirement purposes | 18.3% | 8.6% | 26.9% |
Workers who are 65 years old and have been working for 40 years | 17.3% | 8% | 25.3% |
Working Invalidity Pensioner | 19.3% | 8.9% | 28.2% |
Working Old Age Pensioner | 16.4% | 7.5% | 23.9% |
Civil Servant Invalidity Pensioner | 20.4% | 9.2% | 29.6% |
Civil Servant Old Age Pensioner | 17.5% | 7.8% | 25.3% |
Farmers | 22.3% | 11% | 33.3% |
Local and Near Shore Fishery Workers | 21% | 8% | 29% |
Ship owners who are crew members | |||
Maritime Species Catchers | |||
On foot fishermen | |||
Workers of Private Social Security Institutions | 22.3% | 11% | 33.3% |
Workers of other non-profit entities | |||
Contracted Civil Servants | 23.75% | 11% | 34.75% |
Appointed Civil Servants | 18.6% | 11% | 29.6% |
Domestic Workers without unemployment coverage | 18.9% | 9.4% | 28.3% |
Domestic Workers with unemployment coverage | 22.3% | 11% | 33.3% |
Deficient Workers with a working capacity below 80% | 11.9% | 11% | 22.9% |
Religious Workers (with protection in sickness, parenthood, professional related diseases, invalidity, old age and death) | 19.7% | 8.6% | 28.3% |
Religious Workers (with protection in invalidity, and death) | 16.2% | 7.6% | 23.8% |
Portugal Telecom workers who started their career with CTT Correios de Portugal, S.A. | 7.8% | - | 7.8% |
Young people on school vacations | 26.1% | - | 26.1% |
Type of Employee | Contribution Supported by the Employer | Contribution Supported by Employee | Total Contributions |
---|---|---|---|
Teachers hired until 31 December 2005 not covered by Civil Servants Pension Fund | 21% | 8% | 29% |
Teachers hired until 31 December 2005 working for private schools | 7.8% | - | 7.8% |
Foreign Teachers hired until 31 December 2005 who opted not to enroll with Civil Servants Pension Fund | 7.8% | - | 7.8% |
Teachers hired until 31 December 2005 working for public schools | 4.9% | - | 4.9% |
Non-specialized works of the Autonomous Region of Azores in the sectors of agriculture, forestry or cattle farming | 21% | 8% | 29% |
Worker suspended (by agreement) for pre-retirement purposes with more than 37 years of contributions | 7% | 3% | 10% |
Worker suspended (by agreement) for pre-retirement purposes with less than 37 years of contributions | 14.6% | 7% | 21.6% |
Members of the Armed Forces in voluntary and contractual regime | 3% | - | 3% |
Specialized farmers | 23% | 9.5% | 32.5% |
Non-specialized farmers | 21% | 8% | 29% |
Specialized farmers of the Autonomous Region of Madeira | 20.5% | 8.5% | 29% |
Non-specialized farmers of the Autonomous Region of Madeira | 18.1% | 6.9% | 25% |
Banking workers formally covered by the Family Allowance Fund of the Baking Workers from profit entities | 23.6% | 3% | 26.6% |
Banking workers formally covered by the Family Allowance Fund of the Baking Workers from non-profit entities | 22% | 3% | 25.4% |
Type of Employees | Additional Contribution Supported by the Employer |
---|---|
Beneficiaries of the Social Security Special Fund for the Workers of the Whool Industry | 0.5% |
Beneficiaries of the Special Fund for Insurance Brokers | 1% |
Freelancers | Contributions Supported |
---|---|
Freelancers in general and their respective spouses, or equivalent, with whom they jointly do the freelancing activity on a regular basis. | 21.4% |
Self-employed businessmen/businesswomen and holders of sole-proprietor of limited liability entity and their respective spouses, or equivalent, with whom they jointly do the freelancing activity on a regular basis | 25.2% |
Hiring entity from which the freelancer obtains more than 80% of his income. | 10% |
Hiring entity in other situations. | 7% |
Notaries who, on 31 December 2010, were covered by the freelancers' regime and opted for the maintenance of the Civil Servants' regime. | 2.7% |
People Covered by the Voluntary Social Security Scheme | Contributions Supported |
---|---|
General Situations | 26.9% |
Cooperation Agents | |
High Performance Sportsmen | |
Crew Members of ships registered in the Madeira's International Shipping Registry | |
National Maritime Workers and Watchmen who perform their job in ships owned by foreign companies | 29.6% |
National Maritime Workers and Watchmen who perform their job in ships owned by common fishing companies | |
Research Fellows | |
Voluntary Firefighters | 27.4% |
Social Voluntaries |