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The non-habitual resident (NHR) regime is open to anyone who has the right to reside in Portugal (an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen or a holder of a residence permit) and has not been a tax resident of the country during the previous 5 years.
This section answers the most frequently asked questions on the Portuguese Non-Habitual Tax Resident regime.
1 – What is the NHR regime?
The non-habitual tax resident (NHR) is a tax regime created to improve Portuguese international competitiveness. This regime targets non-resident individuals who are likely to establish a permanent or a temporary residence in Portugal.
2 – What are the benefits of the NHR regime?
The NHR regime establishes, under certain conditions, IRS exemptions on foreign source income, as well as a limited 20% taxation of income from employment and independent personal services, in both cases if deriving from listed high value-added activities.
3 – What types of income are eligible for exemption under NHR regime?
Foreign-sourced passive income (interest, dividends, certain royalties, other income from capital, capital gains and income from immovable property) derived by NHR is exempt (without progression except in the case of capital gains on real estate) in Portugal, provided that it is potentially liable to taxation in the source State (i) under the rules of an existing Double Tax Treaty (DTT) or (ii) in the absence thereof, under the rules of the OECD Model Tax Convention if such income is not deemed to arise from a State, region or territory included in the Portuguese tax havens’ blacklist nor from a Portuguese source under the IRS Code territoriality rules.
Foreign-sourced income from pensions is IRS exempt (with progression) if not deemed to arise from a Portuguese source under the IRS Code territoriality rules.
Foreign-sourced employment income is IRS exempt (with progression), provided that it is effectively taxed in the source State (i) under the rules of a DTT or in, the absence thereof, (ii) of the OECD Model Tax Convention, as long as such income is not deemed to arise from a Portuguese source under the IRS Code territoriality rules.
Foreign-sourced employment income is IRS exempt (without progression) in Portugal, provided that it is income derived from high value added activities of a scientific, artistic or technical nature and it is effectively taxed in the source State (i) under the rules of a DTT or in, the absence thereof, (ii) of the OECD Model Tax Convention, as long as such income is not deemed to arise from a Portuguese source under the IRS Code territoriality rules.
Foreign-sourced income from independent personal services is IRS exempt (without progression) in Portugal, provided that it derives from high value added activities of a scientific, artistic or technical nature, as defined by Ministerial Order, and is potentially liable to taxation in the source State (i) under the rules of an existing DTT or (ii) in the absence thereof, under the rules of the OECD Model Tax Convention, if such income is not deemed to arise from a State, region or territory included in the Portuguese tax havens’ blacklist nor from a Portuguese source under the IRS Code territoriality rules.
4 – What types of income are eligible for reduced rates under NHR regime?
Income deriving from employment or independent personal services of a domestic or foreign source but not qualifying for the mentioned exemptions will be liable to autonomous taxation at a special 20% flat rate and not to the general and progressive IRS rates, provided that it derives from high value added activities of a scientific, artistic or technical nature.
5 – What are considered high value added activities of a scientific, artistic or technical nature?
Ministerial Order no. 12/2010, of January 7, defined the “high value added activities of a scientific, artistic or technical nature” qualifying for the regime. It encompasses a wide range of professions and activities, as follows:
1 – Architects, engineers and similar technicians:
101 – Architects
102 – Engineers
103 – Geologists
2 – Visual artists, actors and musicians:
201 – Theater, ballet, film, radio and television Artists
202 – Singers
203 – Sculptors
204 – Musicians
205 – Painters
3 – Auditors:
301 – Auditors
302 –Tax Consultants
4 – Doctors and dentists:
401 – Dentists
402 – Analyst Doctors
403 – Surgeons
404 – Board doctors in ships
405 – General Practitioners
406 – Dentists
407 – Dentist Doctors
408 – Physiatrists
409 – Gastroenterologists
410 – Ophthalmologists
411 – Orthopaedists
412 – Otorhinolaryngologists
413 – Paediatricians
404 – Radiologists
405 – Doctors in other specialties
5 – Teachers:
501 – University professors
6 – Psychologists:
601 – Psychologists
7 – Professional services, technicians and similar:
701 – Archaeologists
702 – Biologists and experts in life sciences
703 – Computer Programmers
704 – Software consultancy and activities related to information technology and information technology
705 – Computer programming activities
706 – Computer consultancy activities
707 – Management and operation of computer equipment
708 – Activities of information services
709 – Activities of data processing, hosting information and related activities/Web portals
710 – Activities of data processing, hosting information and related activities
711 – Other information service activities
712 – Activities of news agencies
713 – Other information service activities
714 – Scientific research and development
715 – Research and development of science physical and natural
716 – Research and development in biotechnology
717 – Designers
8 – Investors, administrators and managers:
801 – Investors, administrators and managers of companies promoting productive investment, if allocated to eligible projects under tax benefits contracts awarded under the Tax Code for Investment, approved by Decree-Law No. 249/2009, of 23 September
802 – Senior employees of companies
6 – Who may apply for the NHR regime?
Individuals who become resident for tax purposes in Portugal without having been so in the previous five years.
7 – How do I acquire tax residence in Portugal?
Staying for more than 183 days in the Portuguese territory, whether these days are consecutive or not, in any 12-month period beginning or ending in a given tax year;
If staying for a shorter period, having in the Portuguese territory, on any day of the period referred above, a dwelling under circumstances that lead to the presumption of an intention to hold and occupy it as a place of habitual abode;
Being, on December 31st, a crew member of a ship or aircraft at the service of an entity with residence, head office or effective management in Portugal.
8 – What is the procedure to register as tax resident in Portugal?
Registering as a tax resident in Portugal is a requirement to obtain the non-habitual resident status, which means that those wishing to apply for the regime generally must:
i. register as non-resident taxpayers;
ii. obtain residence permits (for non-EU nationals) and residence certificates (for EU nationals);
iii. register as tax residents; and
iv. only then apply for the non-habitual resident status.
9 – How do I apply for the NHR status?
An application must be submitted until March 31st of the tax year following that in which Portuguese tax residence is acquired. This application is addressed to the Director of the Taxable Persons Registration Service (Serviços de Registo de Contribuintes). Moreover, individuals must submit a statement whereby they solemnly declare that they have not fulfilled the criteria necessary for being considered a Portuguese tax resident during the preceding five year. From August 2nd, 2016 onwards, the application and submission of the statement is done through the tax authorities’ website.
10 – For how long may I enjoy the NHR status?
Non-habitual resident individuals may enjoy such status for a ten-year period, after which they will be taxed under the standard IRS regime.
11 – Once I have the NHR status, what are my tax obligations?
After obtaining the non-habitual resident status it will be necessary to file annual tax returns in Portugal, stating the worldwide income and expenses, for which adequate documentation keeping is required.
12 – For how long are the benefits of the regime granted?
The NHR status is granted for a ten-year period. The particular features of the NHR regime may always be amended by law, for better or for worse, even for those who have been granted NHR status prior to the enactment of any change (although in such cases the degree of change to the regime which is admissible under Portuguese constitutional law is very debatable).
13 – Can the NHR regime change?
A change to the NHR regime could happen, but it is not likely, as the regime was introduced in 2009 by a government of the same center-left wing party (“Partido Socialista”) which is now in government with the support of other (more) left-wing parties.
In any case, if such change happens:
i. Even if NHR status is abolished, it cannot be taken away from those that already have it at the time the change is approved;
ii. Although the NHR status cannot be taken away, the regime could be made less attractive (reducing the scope of the exemptions, for instance) even for those that have obtained it in the past. To what extent such change could be made is very debatable under Portuguese administrative and constitutional law. Some changes would always be admissible, but in principle a change that would make the NHR regime purely nominal (making NHR and normal residents taxed in the same way or with only very minor differences) should not be allowed. Assessing the degree of change that is allowed is very difficult.
14 – How does the termination or renegotiation of a double tax treaty (DTT) between Portugal, as my residence State, and an income source State, affect the NHR regime?
Firstly, the likelihood of a unilateral termination of an existing DTT is very reduced. A renegotiation of DTTs between Portugal and other States is currently an issue with two Nordic countries, and is driven by the double non-taxation of private pensions allowed by the combination of the NHR regime with DTTs following the OECD Model Tax Convention. The likelihood of a unilateral termination of an existing DTT is very reduced.
However, recently, Finland terminated the DTT with Portugal. Its application ceased from the start of 2019.
A new treaty with Finland with an amendment to the private pension article of the DTT was already accepted by the Portuguese government, but was not yet adopted by the Portuguese parliament. Sweden has also expressed the desire to revise the same provision in its DTT with Portugal and negotiations are expected to begin soon. These amendments will in principle allow Finland and Sweden, as source States of private pensions, to impose tax on them (Sweden’s existing DTT with Portugal already allows Swedish taxation on disbursements under the Swedish Social Security legislation paid to Portuguese tax residents). However, it is important to realize that the amendment (Finland) or possible amendment (Sweden) of a DTT does not mean that Portugal will unilaterally change its domestic NHR regime, namely by starting to impose tax on foreign-sourced pension income. Currently no other State has publicly signaled a will to revise its DTT with Portugal.
15 – Am I required to provide proof of Portuguese tax residence?
As explained in FAQ #7 above there is more than one way to acquire Portuguese tax residence. The 184-day rule is not mandatory as long as one has, in the Portuguese territory, a dwelling under circumstances that lead to the presumption of an intention to hold and occupy it as a place of habitual abode. The Portuguese tax residence, in principle, will not be challenged by the Portuguese Tax Authorities. However, it could be challenged by an income source State, especially if one spends time in that State. In this regard, a number of precautions are advisable: a) keeping a calendar that tracks one’s days of stay in Portugal and in other countries; b) avoiding short-term rentals and frequent address changes within the Portuguese territory from the moment one becomes a tax resident herein; c) ask for invoices with the Portuguese tax number (NIF) on a recurring basis when one acquires products/services in Portugal. The latter will allow the individual (i) to better prove his/her effective presence in Portugal, if challenged, (ii) to benefit from certain deductions on the Portuguese tax assessment, if he/she has taxable income at standard tax rates, and (iii) also make him/her eligible for a State lottery!
