Two Crypto Tax Proposals Defeated in Portugal, but Gov’t Likely to Follow up With Own Bill

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Tim Alper

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Tim Alper

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Tim Alper is a British journalist and features writer who has worked at Cryptonews.com since 2018. He has written for media outlets such as the BBC, the Guardian, and Chosun Ilbo. He has also worked...

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June 26, 2023 06:54 EDT

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Portugal’s status as a crypto tax haven remains in serious doubt – despite the defeat of two bills calling for the rollout of taxes.

As previously reported, scores of Spaniards and people of other nationalities have attempted to make use of the country’s 0% taxes on crypto trading profits in recent years. But the government has indicated that it is not comfortable with being regarded as a tax haven for crypto traders. Earlier this month, the country’s finance minister Fernando Medina told parliament that cryptoasset-related profits would soon become subject to capital gains taxes.

Opposition MPs have been calling for similar measures for some time – and two small opposition parties had tabled draft bills calling for the immediate rollout of tax on crypto trading profits. But, per the media outlet Eco, both of these were rejected by the Assembly of the Republic in a vote yesterday.

These two draft bills were put forward by the left-wing Left Bloc, which has just five seats in the parliament. The second measure was tabled by the Livre Party – a green-socialist party with a single seat in the house. The Assembly is currently dominated by the governing Socialist Party, which has 120 out of 230 seats.

Although some crypto traders will breathe a sigh of relief – that sigh may be shallow and short-lived. Neither bill had been expected to win the Assembly’s support, as neither had been embraced by any of the two main parties. And the government is yet to unveil its own crypto tax-related legislation – which would be far more likely to pass in parliament and could well be bundled with other amendments to the tax code.

Portugal currently levies a capital gains tax of 28% on property sales for individuals (25% for businesses) – and many analysts expect that a similar rate could be applied to crypto earnings.

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