For most people who choose to move to Portugal, registering their vehicle is often part of the process. As often during an expatriation, things are not so simple! Indeed, if you have the right to move to Portugal with your favorite vehicle, you also have rules to respect when you register your car if you want to not pay huge ISV tax. Indeed, some people think that legalising a car in Portugal is an easy task, but they discover quickly that it is by far one of the most difficult and complicated thing to do when you go to live in Portugal. A dirty engine, a bit too optimistic on the time needed by portuguese authorities to check documents, there are lot of mistakes and trap that you need to avoid if you want to import you car and ask for ISV tax exemption. In order to import your vehicle to Portugal it is necessary to avoid mistakes that can be fatal. What are the 5 mistakes to avoid when legalising your car in Portugal ? What are the pitfalls to avoid when importing a vehicle ? Lisbob, the expatriate's assistant in Portugal, tells you the 5 mistakes you should not make when registering your vehicle in Portugal.
Do I have to pay the ISV tax to legalize my vehicle in Portugal?
If you decide to come to live in Portugal then you will probably ask the question of the registration of your foreign vehicle. Portugal protects its domestic market and imposes very high import taxes : some expats have to pay of up to 5 digits. In some cases you can apply to be exempt from tax but these are not clear according to the sources. Some people say 6 months, some people say 12 months, some people are talking about old cars or brand new one : let Lisbob analyse the situation. Do I have to pay the ISV tax to legalize my foreign vehicle in Portugal ? Lisbob, the Expats Assistant in Lisbon and Portugal has created a free tool to check if you can benefit from the ISV tax exemption.
Portuguese tax authorities ordered to reimburse full ISV tax for the first time
Between Portugal and the ISV tax, it's a great love story. This tax (impostor sobre veiculos) concerns vehicles imported from abroad, and often represents an unpleasant surprise for expatriates who come to settle in Portugal. Being able to easily reach several thousand euros, this tax is disputed by taxpayers but also by Europe. For the first time, the Portuguese tax authorities were ordered to reimburse the full ISV tax collected for a used car imported from Germany. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, tells you all about this new defeat of the Portuguese tax authorities regarding the ISV tax.
Record year for tax revenue in Portugal : € 46 billion in 2019, + 3.8%
You might be wondering why Portugal is so keen on its ISV tax ? Why does it apply a high IUC tax compared to other European countries ? Finally, why is gasoline so expensive in Portugal ? Taxes of course ! You will have some answers with the latest figures from the Portuguese tax authorities concerning the revenue for the year 2019 and the figures are quite good because Portugal harvested 1.68 billion more than in 2018. Revenues from the automotive sector and oil are notably up sharply. The Portuguese State thus collected 46 billion euros in tax in 2019 in total, a figure growing by 3.8% compared to 2018. In detail some taxes see their collection drop like the ISV, while the IUC breaks records. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, tells you everything about tax revennue in Portugal.
Portugual again condemned to reimburse ISV tax for imported vehicle : Lisbon challenges Brussels
Never 2 without 3. The Portuguese Tax and Customs Authority (AT) was again ordered to refund part of the tax on imported vehicles (ISV) it had collected for a used car from the foreign. This decision dates from last week but Portugal is doing everything to remain discreet, as the question of the ISV could open a Pandora's box. It is indeed the third unfavorable conviction in a row from the Portuguese State, which does not comply with judicial decisions and tries to win the dispute before the Constitutional Court. Despite Europe's admonitions, Portugal decides to continue its momentum. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, tells you all about the Portuguese government’s new defeat over the ISV.
Portugal ignores Brussels ultimatum by not changing ISV tax on imported cars and even chooses to raise it
It seems that Portugal is looking for a confrontation with Brussels over the ISV tax. Indeed, while the European Commission has imposed an ultimatum on Portugal to modify the calculation of the ISV tax, Lisbon has decided to turn a deaf ear to threats and will keep the ISV tax as it is. Worse, the Portuguese State Budget indicates an aggravation of the tax for the year 2020. Neither the defeats of the Portuguese taxman in the courts nor the threat of Brussels have changed the opinion of the economy ministry of Mário Centeno. What are the consequences of this Lisbon decision? How will Brussels react? Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, tells you all about this increasingly open conflict between Lisbon and Brussels.
European Commission issues an ultimatum and orders Portugal to modify ISV tax on imported vehicles
Brussels decided to step up against Portugal in the conflict between them over the ISV tax on foreign vehicles imported into Portugal. Indeed, Brussels has notified Lisbon that it must amend its rules on the taxation of second-hand vehicles imported from other Member States of the European Union. Even more threatening, the European Commission has issued an ultimatum of one month in Portugal and force it to change its rules, or having to go to the European Court of Justice. This procedure against Lisbon started in 2016 because Brussels considers that imported vehicles are discriminated against vehicles sold on Portuguese territory. Is this the end of the ISV tax for imported vehicles ? What is the detail of the communication from the European Commission ? Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, tells you all about this ultimatum launched by Brussels on the ISV tax.