IMI (Municipal Property Tax) exemption in Portugal can be granted under certain conditions, both permanently and temporarily. Here are the main criteria to benefit from this exemption:

Permanent Exemption

  1. Household Income:

    The gross annual income of the household must be less than 2.3 times the annual value of the Social Support Index (IAS). For 2024, this value is approximately 16,422 euros.

  2. Taxable Patrimonial Value (VPT):

    The global VPT of the household’s properties cannot exceed 10 times the annual IAS value. For 2024, this equals approximately 71,400 euros.

  3. Property Use:

    The property must be intended for own and permanent residence, i.e., it must be the owner’s tax residence.

Temporary Exemption

  1. Acquisition of Own Residence:

    Temporary exemption is granted for three years to new owners who acquire a property for own and permanent residence. The property’s VPT must be equal to or less than 125,000 euros, and the household’s taxable income cannot exceed 153,300 euros per year.

  2. Urban Rehabilitation:

    Properties located in urban areas that need rehabilitation may also benefit from temporary exemption, provided they are recognized by the municipality.

Procedures

  • Automatic Assignment:

    Permanent exemption is generally automatically assigned based on available tax data. If the conditions are met and the taxpayer still receives an IMI charge, they must file a complaint.

  • Exemption Request:

    In cases where exemption is not automatically assigned, the request can be made through the Tax Portal or at a local Tax Service.

These criteria aim to support families with low income and reduced assets, promoting access to own housing and encouraging urban rehabilitation.