Tax

With solid experience in the Portuguese market and international investments, we take a pragmatic approach to the complexities of wealth management and family businesses.

Our team also has extensive experience in succession planning, which is essential to preserving family wealth across generations. We assist Portuguese and foreign private clients with inbound and outbound investments, particularly in the property and tourism sectors. Our focus is on ensuring that the solutions proposed are in line with family and business objectives, while maintaining the necessary flexibility to meet future challenges.

This experience, consolidated over the years, allows us to respond quickly and effectively to growing concerns and challenges, enabling us to identify and prevent potential tax risks while safeguarding our clients’ assets in different personal, family and business situations.

PLMJ's team of tax lawyers works closely with our clients to provide a wide range of advice and assistance on complex accounting issues, in the light of the national (SNC and NCRF) and international (IAS and IFRS) principles and standards that govern the presentation, content and reporting of accounting information.

As a full-service law firm, we use our expertise to help our clients navigate the relationship between the various relevant areas of law - such as tax law, commercial and company law, employment law, among others - and the best accounting practices on the market. We achieve this by working closely with our various practice areas to ensure that the resources and strengths of the firm are fully utilised.

Despite the increasing globalisation of the economy in recent decades, more than 60% of world trade is still conducted between companies within the same group. In this context, and with the growing technical competence of tax authorities, compliance with transfer pricing rules is essential for companies to meet regulatory requirements and structure their operations effectively.

PLMJ's tax lawyers provide comprehensive advice on transfer pricing issues, addressing each aspect from a 360 degree perspective. This includes conducting economic studies and comparative analyses to determine the market price range. We also review contracts and agreements to ensure that the clauses accurately reflect the substance of the transactions and are in line with market practices for transactions between independent businesses.

We have extensive experience in dealing with issues relating to Value Added Tax (VAT), Excise Duty (IEC) and other special taxes and levies, such as the Extraordinary Tax on the Energy Sector and the Tax on the Banking Sector. Our specialist advice also includes assistance with local tax and customs matters.

Our services also include assisting our clients with issues related to real estate transactions, including Municipal Property Transfer Tax (IMT), Stamp Duty, Municipal Property Tax (IMI) and Additional Municipal Property Tax (AIMI), as well as the various tax benefits associated with them.

The constant changes in the global economic landscape – from disruptions in production chains to the impact of tariffs, customs duties and inflationary pressures – have exposed the Portuguese business community to significant challenges, leading to the need to adapt the way companies operate. These changes may involve, on the one hand, going public to attract new investors or, on the other hand, restructuring the corporate and operational model of groups of companies.

PLMJ’s tax team has extensive experience in advising on the tax aspects of M&A transactions (both on the seller’s and buyer’s side) and corporate reorganisations, including corporate reorganisations, reorganisations of the operating model adopted by groups in their activities and financial restructuring. PLMJ has a strong track record, particularly in the real estate, energy, finance, technology, agriculture and industrial/manufacturing sectors.

We regularly advise on optimising our clients' activities and investments in Portugal and abroad, from a direct and indirect tax perspective. We have an extensive track record in advising companies on analysing and structuring the tax aspects of their international operations, both inbound and outbound.

The advice provided by PLMJ’s lawyers covers not only the domestic and international tax aspects of cross-border investments, but also the compliance aspects that ensure proper implementation and the preparation of documentation to support the operations.

PLMJ’s experience in international taxation is not limited to the application of double taxation treaties, but focuses on their interaction with Portuguese domestic legislation and the rules and principles of European tax law.

The team has in-depth knowledge of Portuguese legislation, consolidated experience in highly complex matters and an approach tailored to the needs and objectives of our clients. On this basis, PLMJ provides tax advice to companies in a wide range of sectors, from family businesses to multinationals, as part of their day-to-day activities and also as part of strategic advice on management and investment decisions. Seeking to combine the technical sophistication inherent in an ever-changing field with a practical view of business, our lawyers assist companies at all stages of their development, with a particular focus on Corporate Income Tax (Imposto sobre o Rendimento das Pessoas Coletivas - IRC). The team has developed expertise in providing general advice on corporate income tax and other national public taxes affecting companies, in planning corporate, financing and real estate transactions, among others, and in assisting with the fulfilment and management of reporting obligations.    

Our tax lawyers also provide regular and specialised assistance in the area of personal taxation, in particular in analysing the tax implications of moving to Portugal, especially with regard to Personal Income Tax (Rendimento das Pessoas Singulares - IRS). We are also dedicated to assisting our individual clients with the various tax aspects arising from their professional activities and the management and organisation of their personal assets.              

Our services also include conducting audits to assess the risk of non-compliance with tax, mandatory levy and special contribution, customs and social security contribution regulations, as well as dealing with inspection procedures, administrative offences and enforcement proceedings.

Our team has represented Portuguese and international companies in complex litigation before the Portuguese Tax Courts, the CAAD (Centre for Administrative Arbitration) and the Court of Justice of the European Union. We also have expertise in handling criminal cases involving tax and social security offences.