How a retired couple avoided progressive tax rates at the end of their 10-year NHR low-tax period through early planning

David and Laura had retired from senior positions in the National Health Service in the UK. After successful careers and wise investments, they moved to the beautiful town of Lagos in Portugal. They lived comfortably there for five years under the D7 visa and the Non-Habitual Residency (NHR) tax regime. Thanks to the NHR program, they enjoyed the 0% tax on their overseas pension and other assets held outside of Portugal.

However, like many approved under the NHR tax regime in Portugal, they had yet to plan for the long term and were unaware that after 10 years, they would face progressive tax rates of 28% to 48% if they failed to take action. They were unprepared for the end of the exemption period, which could drastically change their tax status.

Portugal Pathways offered David and Laura specialised guidance in long-term tax planning. Understanding their situation and their goals, our experts began by reviewing their current tax situation and assessing how financials might change once the NHR tax benefits end, identifying those future tax liabilities and how they could structure their income and financial assets in a way that avoided these future progressive tax rates after 10 years.

We presented a financial plan for a more tax-efficient situation post-NHR and were able to tailor it to their needs, such as investment bonds or trusts, through our proprietary financial planning model and systems. What we put in place has allowed them to pay as little as 3.8% tax per year for another 10 years on their overseas pension and other passive income from their rental properties in the UK.

By helping them take action early, we ensured they had enough time to transition smoothly without unexpected tax liabilities. With our intervention, David and Laura are now positioned to enjoy significant financial benefits whilst enjoying their retirement in Lagos.
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Their experience highlights the importance of early and comprehensive financial planning for those under the NHR tax regime who want to avoid future progressive tax rates.