The National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (ANMP) has estimated that the new ‘sunshine tax’ will lead to a 10% rise in annual property tax (IMI) for recategorised properties.
Good sun exposure and/or a privileged view are two of the criteria being used by the government to extract more money from property owners who own what now are defined as luxury and privileged properties beacuse they face south.
The IMI hike, dubbed the 'Sunshine Tax' and included in legislation this August, may have a "significant and material impact on IMI" and could lead to situations of fiscal injustice," says Manuel Machado, president ANMP.
The changes will cause an increase in the IMI which is not what most councils want at all:
"The general feeling of the local authorities is that the increase in IMI does not bring benefits," said the leader of the ANMP.
The ANMP is preparing a proposal with amendments to the legislation whcih it is to present to the government, its position being that "there must be a balancing of the various legitimate interests involved."
The organisation is still feeling hurt that the government introduced the rates hike without asking its opinion.
