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N.H.R. 2.0 in Portugal – a Better Regime for Skilled Workers and Their Employers

N.H.R. 2.0 in Portugal – a Better Regime for Skilled Workers and Their Employers

Following the unexpected termination of the N.H.R. regime to newly arrived residents as of December 31, 2023, a new regime was offered, known as N.H.R. 2.0. The new regime attracts working individuals, investors and international groups planning on setting up Portuguese subsidiaries. N.H.R. 2.0 is now fully operational for those within scope of eligible activities, which is very wide. João Luís Araújo, a Partner in the Porto Office of Telles, and Sara Brito Cardoso, an Associate in the Porto Office of Telles, explain why N.H.R. 2.0 provides a better result for newly arrived skilled personnel and their employers. The takeaway is that Portugal is very much open for business and keen to attract talent, companies, and investment.

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Portuguese Taxation of Distributions from Trust Capital: A Critical Assessment

Portuguese Taxation of Distributions from Trust Capital: A Critical Assessment

How does a country adopt a law to tax the income of an entity that generally is not recognized under local law? In Portugal, there is room for improvement. The 2014 reform of the Portuguese Personal Income Tax ("P.I.T.") Code introduced certain taxing provisions that specifically address "fiduciary structures," the Portuguese term for trusts. Two separate categories of payments were established for purposes of imposing tax. Under the first category, all amounts paid or made available to a Portuguese tax resident are taxable. This includes capital distributions. Under the second category, gains realized by the taxpayer who formed the fiduciary structure are taxed at the time of a final distribution incident to the structure’s liquidation, unwinding, or termination. Other beneficiaries can receive liquidation distributions without suffering any tax. João Luís Araújo and Álvaro Silveira de Meneses of Telles Advogados, Porto and Lisbon, Portugal, suggest that solid arguments support the view that certain distributions should be seen as outside the scope of the P.I.T. Code, including (i) distributions of trust capital to the settlor during the ongoing existence of a trust and (ii) distributions to non-settlors that are akin to gifts.

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