IMT (property transfer tax)
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IMT (Imposto Municipal sobre as Transmissões Onerosas de Imóveis) is the tax the buyer pays when acquiring a property, including at auction.
IMT is paid by the buyer. The amount depends on two things: the base on which it is charged and the rate.
Base. Under the general rule, the tax is charged on the higher of two figures: the price or the . For property acquired in a judicial or administrative sale, the base is the price (article 12(4), rule 16).
Rate. It depends on the type of property and its use (article 17). For housing there are bracket tables, different for a main permanent home and for other housing. Rural property pays 5%. Other urban property (shops, warehouses, building plots) pays 6.5%.
There are exemptions for a main permanent home up to a certain value, including a regime for buyers aged up to 35 purchasing their first home (article 9). Since 2026, article 17(10) provides for a 7.5% rate on housing bought by non-residents, with exceptions.
Example
Illustrative example: a shop is bought at auction for €100,000. Its VPT is €130,000. IMT is charged on the price: €100,000 × 6.5% = €6,500.
In practice, at an auction
IMT is paid before you receive the property: the is issued only after the price is paid and the tax obligations are met (CPPT article 256; CPC article 827). In judicial or administrative sales, the payment deadline is 30 days from the signing of the record of sale (article 36(3)).
The tables are updated frequently. Check the current figures in article 17 on the Portal das Finanças, or use the cost calculator. is added to IMT. Guide: The costs of buying at auction.