Homebuyers under 35 in Portugal can benefit from a tax exemption when purchasing a property under the IMT Jovem scheme (literally, “IMT for young people”). IMT is the property transfer tax paid by the buyer. The scheme exempts eligible buyers from both IMT and the 0.8% stamp duty, provided the property is their first home and will be used as their permanent residence. In 2026, the exemption is full for properties worth up to €330,539 and partial for those priced up to €660,982. In return, buyers must live in the property for six years.
It has now emerged that buyers could lose the tax break if, during those six years, they take a job with a different employer in another city and move out. That is the position taken by Portugal’s tax authority, AT, in response to a query from a homebuyer.
The law provides an exception if the workplace is more than 100 km from the home, provided the property remains a place of residence. The person who submitted the query started a new job with another company more than 100 km away in the summer of 2025, less than a year after buying the property, and wanted to rent it out. However, AT ruled that the exception applies only when an employee is transferred by the same employer. The tax will therefore have to be repaid within 30 days.
If you change jobs but continue living in the property you bought, the tax exemption remains in place. Before moving out and renting the property, it is worth asking AT for clarification on how the rules apply to your particular circumstances.