Pinto Luz ensures accurate accounts with housing measures

The Minister of Infrastructure and Housing assured that the country will continue to have its financial affairs in order with the recently approved housing measures, which he considered "the biggest fiscal shock" in this area.

“I can already give you a guarantee: the accounts will continue to be correct. I know that some people will be saddened by this information, but the Portuguese will be happy, (…) we will continue to have correct accounts in Portugal,” said Miguel Pinto Luz tonight, in an interview with RTP.

The minister did not reveal what impact the recently approved housing sector measures will have on the State Budget, referring instead to the macroeconomic and fiscal policy scenario that Finance Minister Joaquim Miranda Sarmento will present this month.

Last week, the Government approved a set of measures that include a reduction in VAT to 6% on the construction of housing up to 648 thousand euros, an increase in IRS deductions for tenants from 700 euros to 900 euros in 2026 and to 1,000 in 2027, a reduction in IRS from 25% to 10% for landlords on rents up to 2,300 euros, which is the ceiling for the concept of rent considered moderate by the Government, and an increase in IMT for non-residents.

Miguel Pinto Luz accused the Socialist Party (PS) and the left-wing opposition of being "angry with the government for cutting taxes" and considered that believing that the market will respond to the €2,300 tax cap by bringing rents down to that level is "wrong reasoning."

Regarding the increase in IMT (IMT) for non-residents, which excludes emigrants, the minister said that the amount has not yet been defined, but is being calculated in order to maintain the "balance" necessary for the accounts to be balanced.

"It will be enough to help balance the situation, but it will not jeopardize the market that has been created, because we must continue to attract this investment," he emphasized, noting that this measure will cover "a very small fraction of those who invest in Portugal."

When asked about the discussions on the 2026 State Budget, Pinto Luz considered that "the new political scenario has given more stability to the Assembly of the Republic", therefore anticipating "that the process will be different" from that of a year ago.

"I hope there is responsibility (from all parties), because Portugal has had too much instability in recent years and that has not been good for the Portuguese people," he stressed.

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