IMI Property Tax in Lisbon: Rate, Payment Dates and Exemptions
How Lisbon's annual property tax is worked out, when the bills arrive, who can be exempt and when the AIMI surcharge for high-value owners applies.
IMI (Imposto Municipal sobre Imóveis, the municipal property tax) is an annual tax on the taxable value of every property in Portugal, paid by whoever owned it on 31 December. Lisbon applies the legal minimum rate of 0.3% on urban property, so a home with a taxable value of €200,000 pays €600 a year before any reduction.
The tax is billed by the tax authority (AT, Autoridade Tributária) the year after the one it refers to: IMI for 2025 is paid during 2026. Rules and amounts below are as of November 2026.
How much IMI do I pay in Lisbon?
Multiply your property’s taxable value (VPT) by the municipal rate. The law lets municipalities set a rate between 0.3% and 0.45% for urban property (0.8% applies to rural land). Lisbon’s council and municipal assembly approved the minimum 0.3% again in December 2025, together with a family reduction for households with dependents.
| Taxable value (VPT) | IMI at Lisbon’s 0.3% | Payment schedule |
|---|---|---|
| €30,000 | €90 | One payment in May |
| €100,000 | €300 | Two payments, May and November |
| €200,000 | €600 | Three payments, May, August and November |
| €400,000 | €1,200 | Three payments, May, August and November |
Neighboring municipalities set their own rates, so a flat in Oeiras or Cascais can pay more than an identical one in Lisbon. The rate for every municipality is listed on Portal das Finanças.
How is the taxable value (VPT) set?
The taxable value (Valor Patrimonial Tributário, VPT) is calculated by AT with a formula, not taken from the price you paid. The formula combines the base construction value per square meter with coefficients for area, use, location, quality and comfort, and the age of the building. The result is shown on the property’s tax record, the caderneta predial, which you can download free from Portal das Finanças.
VPT is usually far below market value, which is why IMI bills in Lisbon are often lower than newcomers expect. If you think the VPT is too high, for example because the building is old or the area recorded is wrong, you can ask AT for a new valuation. A new valuation can also raise the value, so check the coefficients first or ask a certified accountant (contabilista certificado).
When and how do I pay?
AT sends a payment notice (nota de cobrança) by the end of the month before each payment. The schedule depends on the total bill:
- up to €100: one payment by 31 May;
- over €100 and up to €500: two payments, by 31 May and 30 November;
- over €500: three payments, by 31 May, 31 August and 30 November.
You can pay the full amount in May instead. Payment works at a Multibanco ATM or in online banking under payments to the State (Pagamentos ao Estado) with the reference on the notice, through MB WAY from Portal das Finanças, at a Finanças office or Loja do Cidadão, or by direct debit, which you set up on the portal.
- Log in to Portal das Finanças with your NIF and password or the Chave Móvel Digital.
- Go to Imposto Municipal sobre Imóveis and choose Consultar Notas de Cobrança, then pick the year.
- Check the property, the VPT, the rate and any reductions applied.
- Pay with the reference shown, or under Pagamentos a decorrer in your personal area.
Without a NIF and a working portal password you will miss the notices. Our guide to getting a NIF covers that first step.
Can I be exempt from IMI on my own home?
Yes, in two cases set by law, both for a permanent primary home (habitação própria e permanente). The Finance Ministry’s 2026 explainer gives these limits:
| Exemption | Conditions (2026 values) | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Low-income household | Gross annual household income up to €17,295.59 and total VPT of all the household’s property up to €75,198.20 | As long as conditions are met |
| Newly bought or built home | VPT up to €125,000, the home is your tax address, and household income within the legal limit (the ministry quotes €153,000) | 3 years, which the municipality may extend by 2 |
The temporary exemption depends on the property being registered as your tax address in time, so update your address with Finanças as soon as you move in. Our guide to taxes when buying property covers IMT and stamp duty at purchase.
What is the family IMI reduction?
Municipalities can cut the IMI on a primary home by a fixed amount for households with dependents, known as IMI familiar. Lisbon applies it: €30 for one dependent, €70 for two and €140 for three or more. It applies only to the permanent home, not to second homes or land. Check the payment notice: if dependents are missing from your household on Portal das Finanças, the reduction will not appear.
What is AIMI?
AIMI (Adicional ao IMI) is a national surcharge on owners of high-value residential property and building land. It is charged on the total VPT you own after a deduction of €600,000 for an individual, or €1,200,000 for married couples and civil partners who opt for joint taxation.
- Up to €1,000,000 above the deduction: 0.7%.
- From €1,000,000 to €2,000,000: 1%.
- Above €2,000,000: 1.5%.
For joint taxation, the bracket limits double. AT calculates AIMI in June and bills it for a single payment in September. Couples must submit the joint-taxation option between 1 April and 31 May on Portal das Finanças; it stays valid until canceled. Details are on the Portal das Finanças IMI and AIMI page.
Bottom line
Lisbon’s minimum rate makes IMI modest for most owner-occupiers, but the tax follows the owner on 31 December, so agree in the purchase deed who pays for the year of the sale. Look at the caderneta predial before buying: an old VPT is a cheap tax bill now and a possible increase after any future revaluation.
FAQ
Do non-residents pay IMI in Lisbon?
Yes. IMI depends on owning property in Portugal, not on residence. Non-resident owners can see their payment notices on Portal das Finanças, so keep your login working after you leave.
Who pays IMI in the year I buy?
The owner on 31 December of the year the tax refers to. If you buy in March 2026, you pay the 2026 IMI in 2027; the seller pays the 2025 IMI billed in 2026.
Can I pay IMI in monthly installments?
No. The law sets one, two or three payments depending on the amount, in May, August and November. Paying everything in May is allowed.
Where do I see Lisbon’s current IMI rate?
On Portal das Finanças, which lists the rates set by each municipality for each year. Municipalities approve their rate each year, so check the list for the year on your bill.
