The OECD recommends that Portugal lower the IMT (property transfer tax) and raise the IMI (municipal property tax), particularly for vacant homes. The recommendations come at a time when parliament approved a package of measures intended to help resolve the housing problem. We analyse the impact on the property market with economist João Duque. Listen to the podcast here.
João Duque: "It's unfair that buying a luxury car costs practically nothing while a home, which is essential, costs so much"
Friday, 16 January 2026RSS
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Context & Explainers
Portugal's president is elected by universal suffrage, requiring an absolute majority; if no candidate wins over 50% in the first round, a second round is held between the top two candidates. The president has important but limited powers — they represent the state internationally, appoint the prime minister, can veto legislation and dissolve parliament — while day‑to‑day government policy and foreign policy are led by the prime minister and ministers.
The property transfer tax (Imposto Municipal sobre Transmissões Onerosas de Imóveis), commonly called IMT, is a one‑off tax paid when you buy real estate in Portugal and its rate depends on the property’s price and type. The exemption referenced by the finance minister lowers upfront costs for eligible young buyers, making it an important affordability measure for people trying to enter the housing market.
The municipal property tax (Imposto Municipal sobre Imóveis), known as IMI, is an annual tax on property ownership calculated from the property’s taxable value, with the exact rate set by each municipality. For expats who own property, IMI is a recurring local cost that can vary by location and is often central to policy discussions about housing affordability.
The limitation period for most tax debts in Portugal is eight years (prescrição), with the start date depending on the tax type: from the tax event for taxes like IMT, from the end of the year in which the event occurred for IRS and IRC, or from the start of the following calendar year for withholdings. For expats this means tax authorities can assess or collect many debts for up to eight years after the triggering event, so it’s important to keep tax records for that period.
A criminal record certificate (certificado de registo criminal) is an official document showing whether you have criminal convictions and is commonly required for residence‑permit renewals, certain jobs or professional registrations. Expats are usually asked to provide a recent certificate from their home country (often translated and legalized) or obtain a Portuguese one via the justice portal, with the exact documents and acceptable validity periods varying by the authority handling the application.
