Fiscal Representation

[spanner]

Hi

New to the forum. Have owned a property on the Algarve for nearly two years now and have just been sent this years Fiscal Representation invoice for 250 euros (incl IVA) for my wife and I who jointly own the property. We had no choice last year as time was not on our side, but our total IMI bill was only 820 euros and to pay approximately 25% for this service seems steep! When we finally went to pay the invoice a very helpful clerk suggested we would be better off using a local resident to act as our FP as it only needs to be a local address to send the bill.

Does anyone know if it is possible to appoint a local resident to act as your FR or do they have to be licenced or something. Having read through some of the comments, it seems the words money and old rope spring to mind when you only want to pay your IMI (council tax) - but perhaps I'm just mean!!

Look forward to any advice or guidance.

[Mike,Chislehurst]

Ask the lawyer who acted in the purchase of the property for a quote, ours charges 45 euros. Failing that try the management company that "perhaps" pay your local bills etc.

[Barry]

Agree with Mike. Although we are spending increasing amounts of our time in Portugal, we can never be sure to be here when IMI is due, so we still use our lawyer. The charge is 30 euros.

[jimmyp]

Hi

as we only own a part share in a property in Rocha Brava this "council tax" is paid by Rocha Brava and then billed on. Despite this when I told my Fiscal Rep I didnt need their services any more they still said I needed a rep by law. Is this right? are there any other bills they would receive?

J

[Mike,Chislehurst]

Jimmyp, you need a fiscal rep to pay your taxes if any. These are the equivalent of our IR and exclude any council taxes etc. So yes you need a fiscal rep

[astrid]

Have a look at Property Owners Forum posts of February 17, 2006
(postee Astrid) and of March 6, 2006 (Postee LenB) on Fiscal Representation.

In the Financial Section of the Carvoeiro.com website there is also
an entire section on Fiscal Representation.

[Fergie]

Hi

New to the forum. Have owned a property on the Algarve for nearly two years now and have just been sent this years Fiscal Representation invoice for 250 euros (incl IVA) for my wife and I who jointly own the property. We had no choice last year as time was not on our side, but our total IMI bill was only 820 euros and to pay approximately 25% for this service seems steep! When we finally went to pay the invoice a very helpful clerk suggested we would be better off using a local resident to act as our FP as it only needs to be a local address to send the bill.

Does anyone know if it is possible to appoint a local resident to act as your FR or do they have to be licenced or something. Having read through some of the comments, it seems the words money and old rope spring to mind when you only want to pay your IMI (council tax) - but perhaps I'm just mean!!

Look forward to any advice or guidance.

Hi IMI bills are sent out twice a year, April and September.
If you do not pay by the due date you will be fined about 20 euros and you need to pay the penalty otherwise the Council will take your property to pay the penalty. You can pay the total due for the year in April, if required at the fiscal office in Lagoa
With my first council bill the solicitor paid it and charged me 25 euros.
He did not want to be bothered with these payments and advised me to get my fiscal address changed to the address of my Portuguese property
When you first obtained a fiscal number the solicitor would have used his own address.
To change your fiscal address go the the fiscal office with your passport and fiscal card / document.
My council tax bill goes to my fiscal address, my portuguese property.
At present I do not have or require a fiscal representative and my only problem with the IMI tax is to ensure that I collect my post during April or get some one to collect it and send it to me.
Eric F.

[dennisg]

Hi

as we only own a part share in a property in Rocha Brava this "council tax" is paid by Rocha Brava and then billed on. Despite this when I told my Fiscal Rep I didnt need their services any more they still said I needed a rep by law. Is this right? are there any other bills they would receive?

J

We own a property at Rocha Brava, having previously owned a quarter share there, and have never used a Fiscal Rep. Bravirocha have always paid our bills on our behalf and posted to our account with them. They also calculate our income tax bills for a fee of 10 euros. Friends of ours with a property in Alvor have to use a lawyer who charge them considerably more for the calculation and representation.

[jimmyp]

Thanks Dennis - I shall fire my Fiscal Rep as soon as poss as they want many euros to do nothing as far as I can see.

J

[Karen Ann]

I know where you're coming from Jimmy. We have just received a request for 300€ from our Fiscal Rep, and I don't think they have done anything for us.
Our appartment is not part of a complex but I will be looking into making other arrangements as soon as I can.