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- Tax, Live in Portugal
IMT Jovem: The IMT and Stamp Duty Exemption for Young Buyers
🎉 What Is IMT Jovem?
It’s an exemption from IMT and Stamp Duty on the purchase of a young person’s first own permanent home. It was created to help young people buy their own home.
💶 How Much Can You Save? (2026)
- Full exemption: for homes up to €330,539 — no IMT and no Stamp Duty on the purchase.
- Partial exemption: for homes between €330,539 and €660,982 — IMT is only paid on the amount above €330,539, at 8% (and Stamp Duty applies to the excess).
- No exemption: for homes above €660,982.
Examples:
- €300,000 home: IMT €0 and Stamp Duty €0 — a saving of around €12,900 compared with the normal rules.
- €400,000 home: IMT on €69,461 × 8% = €5,556.88, plus Stamp Duty on the excess.
✅ Who Qualifies?
- You’re 35 or younger on the date of the purchase
- You’re not a dependant for IRS purposes (you file your own tax return or are part of a couple’s return)
- The property is your first own permanent home (habitação própria e permanente)
- You’re not the owner of any other residential urban property (or share of one) — and haven’t been in the previous three years
- You must be a Portuguese tax resident
Couples: if only one of the buyers is 35 or younger, the exemption applies to their share of the property.
📝 How to Apply
- The exemption is applied at the time of the purchase — the notary or lawyer handles the IMT declaration.
- You must declare that you meet the requirements.
- Make sure your tax situation is correct (tax address, not being a dependant) before the deed.
⚠️ When Can You Lose It?
- If you don’t move in and make the property your permanent home within six months
- If you use the property for another purpose (rent it out, for example) within six years
- If you turn out not to meet any of the requirements
In these cases, you’ll have to pay the IMT and Stamp Duty that would have been due — and you must inform the Tax Authority.
🏦 Bonus: Public Guarantee for Mortgages
Young buyers who meet similar requirements may also benefit from a public guarantee on their mortgage, which allows them to finance up to 100% of the property’s value with participating banks. Ask your bank about it.
💡 Tips
- Check your age on the deed date — turning 36 a week before can cost you the exemption.
- If you’re a dependant in your parents’ IRS, make sure you file your own return in time.
- If you already own a share of a property (for example, an inheritance), check how it affects you.
- Non-residents generally can’t benefit from IMT Jovem.
🚀 Final Considerations
IMT Jovem is one of the biggest tax benefits for young people in Portugal. If you’re 35 or younger and buying your first home, it’s worth checking every requirement carefully — the savings can be significant.
📢 Expert Advice: Check the requirements before you sign the CPCV, not at the deed. Small details — like being someone’s dependant or co-owning an inherited property — can make you lose the exemption.
Buying your first home in Portugal? Step Inside Portugal’s tax team can check if you qualify for IMT Jovem and calculate your savings — find out more about our tax services here. ✨
This article is for general information only and doesn’t constitute tax advice. Amounts refer to 2026 for mainland Portugal; confirm the rules that apply to your purchase.
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