There are many factors to take into consideration when reviewing the best location for a Family Office. These factors naturally differ depending on the particular situation. Dixcart are well-positioned to offer advice and insight into determining which jurisdiction is best suited to meet specific family needs.

Portugal Family Office

Portugal is particularly well suited, being an EU member country, offering a beneficial mix of corporate and personal income tax advantages, which are touched on briefly below.

General Reasons

  • Portugal is a very safe country that is well established within the EU and under relevant EU Laws.
  • Portugal has a well-qualified and skilled labour force, with relatively low labour costs, within the EU.

Tax Reasons

  • Zero tax is payable on inherited wealth and on gifts and donations, in Portugal.
  • Portugal does not levy wealth tax, only income is taxed. This therefore reduces the potential tax burden on accumulated wealth, namely on assets with capitalised capital gains.
  • Gratuitous transfers of property, in life or upon death, between spouses, descendants and ascendants is covered by an exemption from Stamp Tax (10% tax rate), regardless of the amount and/or the type of taxpayer. This exemption applies to; shares, bonds, cash and immovable property (although the latter is subject to a 0.8% tax rate when transfers are made 'in life').
  • Portuguese companies, incorporated within the EU approved Madeira International Business Centre (IBC), benefit from a 5% corporate tax rate on international income.

The Non-Habitual Tax Regime (NHR)

  • This regime provides several exemptions on foreign-sourced investment income, namely on interest and dividend income. This exemption, combined with the extensive Portuguese Double Tax Treaty network, is proving beneficial to multinational family office structures.
  • A special 10% flat tax rate on pension income exists, including third-pillar pension schemes (with capital or lump sum payments).
  • Reduced tax rates for certain Portuguese income streams are available, mainly employment and self-employment income derived from so-called high value-added activities.

The NHR is available to individuals, moving to Portugal, who have not been tax resident there for the preceding five years. It is available for up to ten years.

A Good Double Tax Treaty Network

  • The extensive Portuguese Double Tax Treaty network allows for withholding tax reductions from foreign-sourced dividends, interest and royalties, as well as enabling the NHR exemptions to operate more efficiently.

An Attractive Participation Exemption Tax Regime

  • A general participation exemption regime allows for withholding tax exemptions on dividends between related companies, with low thresholds facilitating 'free' equity flow between family-owned multinational structures.

Trust Structures and the Portuguese Tax System

Portugal, being a civil law jurisdiction, does not have a domestic legal trust regime. Trust structures held within a Family Office, subsequently established in Portugal, may require careful review and/or restructuring.

Matters such as the location and nature of the trust, position of the settlor, trustee and beneficiary, revocability of the trust, and powers of the settlor regarding the nomination of trustees and the liquidation of the trust, must all be thoroughly analysed.

Dixcart Portugal, being part of a group with a strong presence in a number of jurisdictions, can offer extensive experience and knowledge regarding 'trust' jurisdictions, having offices in a number of them. We are therefore uniquely positioned to advise foreigners moving to Portugal regarding the implementation of trust structures.

Summary and Additional Information

Portugal offers a number of potential advantages for the location of a Family Office, in particular if the owners of the wealth take advantage of the Portuguese Golden Visa, move to Portugal, and benefit from the NHR regime.

We strongly recommend that professional advice should be taken.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.