NHR Revoke from 2024: The Future of the NHR Tax Regime

On October 2, the Cape Verdean Prime Minister took the nation by surprise when he announced a significant shift in the Non-Habitual Residency (NHR) tax regime starting in 2024. For many, the NHR scheme has been a beacon of tax incentives, but with this recent announcement, the landscape is poised to change.

The Major Announcements

1. End of Special Tax for New NHRs: From 2024, the special tax regime for new non-habitual residents will be terminated. However, for those already benefitting from this regime, there will be no changes. As the Prime Minister succinctly put it, “Whoever has it will keep it.”

2. Introduction of the “Incentive to Scientific Research and Innovation”: Replacing the NHR is the new tax regime specifically tailored for certain professionals:

   • Higher education professors and scientific researchers.
   • Those qualified within the specific scope of contractual benefits for productive investment.
   • R&D jobs with personnel having minimum qualifications equivalent to a doctorate, provided these costs are eligible for specific R&D tax incentives.

   For individuals in the categories above (who haven’t been a tax resident of Portugal in the past 5 years), a 20% rate on professional income earned in Portugal will be applied. Additionally, they’ll have access to exemptions on various foreign-sourced incomes, such as employment, dividends, capital gains, real estate income, or interest.

3. Broadened Tax Incentive: Starting January 1, 2024, a new tax incentive will be introduced. Anyone becoming a Portuguese tax resident (and not having been so in the past 5 years) will enjoy a 50% personal income tax exemption on employment and freelance income. This is for 5 years and isn’t limited to any specific expertise. The catch? This exemption is capped at 250,000 EUR per year. Income above this will be subjected to standard tax rates.

The Implications

These are significant changes, and here are some key takeaways:

• For those eyeing Cape Verdean tax residency before December 31, 2023, it might be beneficial to accelerate this move to benefit from the current NHR rules for a decade.
• For others not in this position, several promising options remain. Beyond the potential transitional provisions surrounding the existing NHR rules, new tax residents will benefit from a 50% tax break on employment and freelance income for 5 years (with the noted cap).

In a Nutshell

Cape Verde tax landscape is evolving, with clear indications of incentivizing scientific research, innovation, and broadly encouraging new tax residents. As with all major policy shifts, there are pros and cons, opportunities, and challenges. It’s essential to stay informed and perhaps seek expert advice to navigate these changes effectively.