Hi,
Foreign pensioners will become exempt from paying income tax from January 2013. The government in Portugal has introduced a 10-year tax exemption window of opportunity for foreign retirees who want to retire abroad to live in Portugal, and who want to enjoy a reduced cost of living thanks to having no income tax deducted from their pension
I. Introduction to the Non Habitual Retired Resident Regime
In its assumed objective to attract affluent senior citizens from around the world, and specially from high tax countries, the Portuguese government has approved one of the most aggressive and competitive tax regime for pensions of any kind, from pensions paid by social security, employer's retirement plans, to pension funds, trough other arrangements like private insurance.
Since the 1st of January 2013, foreign sourced pension income, even if has not been taxed in the country of origin (most cases), received in Portugal by individuals who qualify for the status of non habitual resident, are totally exempted from tax (0%).
Other foreign sourced income will also be exempt in Portugal and locally generated income, will be in most cases taxed at a flat rate of 20%.
II. Who can benefit from the status of non-habitual resident?
Any foreigner was not been taxed as Portuguese residents in the previous five years.
III. What is needed to fulfill the legal criteria to become a Non-Habitual Resident?
a) the individual must reside in Portugal 183 calendar days, either consecutive or not, in the year of application and the subsequent years.
b) The individual should have by the 31st of December of the year of application a permanent residence and be able to show that he is the intent of using it has his primary home and residence.
IV. For how long is this tax exception granted?
The retired foreign citizen that successfully applies to this status benefits from the foreign sourced personal income 0% tax and reduced tax from Portuguese generated income for 10 (ten) years.
V. Other advantages:
The Non Habitual Resident Regime can be cumulated or coupled with other existing tax incentives such as the GOLDEN VISAS. Portuguese eraned income such as wages, provision of services will be taxed at a reduced rate of 20%. In general, dividends, interests, capital gains and other foreign earned income will be exempt from personal income tax in Portugal.
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