The Bloco de Esquerda (left-wing bloc) today presented two proposals, as part of the Portuguese state budget for 2020, to end the golden visas and eliminate the non-habitual resident regime. This is not the first time that the left party has put forward such a proposal with the aim of bringing more tax justice, but this year the bloco de esquerda intends to have its proposals adopted. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, tells you all about the Bloco de Esquerda's insistence on ending the RNH status as well as the golden visas.
Article translated from sapo.pt
Bloco de Esquerda insists on the end of NHR status and golden visas
In the last Portuguese budget for 2019, the "blockers" had already presented proposed amendments aimed at repealing these two regimes, but the two had failed to be adopted.
According to information provided to the Lusa news agency, the Bloco de Esquerda reiterates its insistence, within the framework of the 2020 state budget (OE2020), on the objective of ending golden visas as well as NHR status.
In the explanatory note about golden visas, the BE considers that this measure, "the main defense of which rested with the CDS, but which the PSD and the PS defended from the start, has become one of the main centers of economic crime, but also one of the main reasons for real estate speculation ”.
"Transparency International (IT) recently published a study which clearly indicates that golden visas are an instrument capable of increasing crime and corruption, urging the Portuguese government to adopt a coherent approach," said the left-wing party.
All the good things have an end, even NHR status
The Bloco de Esquerda also quotes former socialist Ana Gomes, who called the golden visas "an import regime for corruption and organized crime in the European Union", making it clear that it was " not a one-party problem. "
"In a short period of time, this scheme has led to an increase in economic crime and an increase in prices on the property market at values which do not correspond to the actual market values, making the right to housing impossible. These are more than enough reasons to recognize that it is necessary to revoke this regime, "he justifies.
With regard to the tax regime for non-habitual residents (NHR), the Bloco de Esquerda explains that it intends to eliminate it because it "constitutes a situation of relative injustice towards other residents , and its effectiveness in attracting qualified professionals has not been proven ” (Editor's note: only 8% of beneficiaries of NHR status are professionals with high added value).
Since Monday, the start of the negotiation phase of the Portuguese State Budget OE2020, the Bloco de Esquerda has submitted 42 proposals for budgetary modifications, which were globally approved at the end of last week.
