Hayles

I recently received an email from the solicitor who was involved in the orginal purchase of our property. They have stated the following:

"If you wish to try to reduce the amount of your Portuguese council tax, in order to reduce your fiscal payments, we propose you to engage our legal services in order to revaluate your property by doing a fiscal simulation of the new patrimonial value and, if this simulation results in a decrease of the actual patrimonial value of your property, fill in the necessary council tax (IMI) declaration in order to apply for this reduction (since the revaluation is not binding, even though based on the same criterions).

So, even though the Civil Engineer is a specialist in property revaluation, the last decision is of the Portuguese Tax Department. Nevertheless, since the patrimonial value of the property is calculated according to a formula that included several items, but is determined by law, we have positive results in IMI future reduction. "

Is it possible to do this? Has anyone successfully reduced their council tax or is it just a money raising scam?

I really need some guidance on this.

Regards

arq.MarcoCarrico

the fiscal department is doing reavaluations to everyone but its to increase its value not to decrease.

Troia

Hayles: yes, you can ask for IMI re-evaluation at any time, if you feel you are paying too much.

For instance, this should be done if your property has a number of years old (sorry, not sure how many) since one of the mentioned coefficients is the "coeficiente de vestustez" (aging coefficient) and it decreases with the aging of the property, so IMI reduces accordingly. This should be done automatically, but its not, its only done on request.

Mind you that the IMI re-evaluation request costs about 200 Euros (if I am not wrong), but you only pay if your request has been denied.

You can do it yourself in your Repartição de Finanças filling up some forms, not too bad

micmc47

Hi, I also recently received a letter like this, relating to our apartment in Tavira, which we have now owned for 6 years. Despite the passage of time, our so-called 'landscaped, central garden area, with water feature', as advertised in the original marketing literature, remains an unsightly building site, and is a continuing source of embarrassment to all residents - especially when we have visitors. The problem is that the original builders went bust - but that's another story. On that basis alone I'm about to ask the Company who manage our condominium to request a reduction in Council tax. It may just focus a few people on sorting things out. I'll post here with any progress.

bejaboz

I'd be wary, they may just be looking for work in these troubled times, are they able to offer any satisfied clients as a reference?

Hayles

I was a general email trying to generate work. I spoke to a property agent in the area and they thought it was something to avoid.

Hayles

Thanks micmc47, it would be really helpful to find out how you get on. Is it really possibel to get your rates (council tax) reduced because property values have reduced?

Biffa

Any property which was acquired between 2004 and 2009 would probably benefit from a revaluation. This is because of changes in the coefficients used to calculate the value.

To answer the suscriber who mentioned the general revaluation programme now ongoing, that is only for properties that have not already been valued under the CIMI scheme introduced in 2003 or thereabouts.

If your property was valued more than 3 years ago you can apply for a revaluation . The cost of €204 quoted in this thread is for challenging a valuation and not requesting a new revaluation after over 3 years.

Hayles

Thanks for your reply. Do you know if there is a cost for requesting a new valuation on an apartment which was bought in 2007/08?

Ingles

A Tribunal in Porto last week ruled after a complaint that these New IMI Evaluations are invalid due to "lack off information" on the Fatura sent ?

Obviously the Gov & Camarás are going to appeal.

Biffa

Hayles - whilst you have to pay to challenge a valuation there should not be a cost to request one more than 3 years following the last one.

Hayles

I'll have a go and let you know how I get on. Thanks for the inputs.