Taxes in Portugal is levied by both the federal and the regional governments. Tax revenue in Portugal stood at 32.5% of GDP in 2013 Most important revenue sources, include the income tax, Social security contributions, corporate tax and the value added tax, which are all applied on the federal level.
Employment income earned in subject to a progressive income tax, which apply to all who are in the workforce. Furthermore, a long list of tax allowances can be deducted, including a general deduction, health expenses, life and health insurance and education expenses. Furthermore, an extraordinary tax of 3.5% is also being applied in 2015 on to all employment and state pension income over €6,790. Currently, for year 2014, the personal income taxation system is as follows:
The corporate tax rate in Portugal is 23% It was lowered by 2% down from 25% in 2014, as a part of a tax reform. Some corporate enterprises are exempted from corporation tax, e.g. charitable foundations, Church institutions, and sports clubs.
Three different VAT rates apply. General rate of 23%. Furthermore, two reduced rates apply of a rate of 13% for ordinary wine, spring, mineral, medicinal and carbonated water,tickets for cultural events. And a further reduced rate of 6% apply on cereals, meat, shellfish, fruit, and vegetables, other essential foods, books and newspapers, medicines, passenger transport and hotel accommodation. Furthermore, the Azores have lower VAT rates, that instead apply on the rates 18%, 10% and 5%. A business with a turnover of less than 10,000 Euro a year is exempt from VAT.
All employment income is subject to social security contributions. The employee's contribution is 11% of the salary. The employer's contribution is 23.75% of the salary. There is no income ceiling. The contribution covers pension, unemployment, health and care insurance.