Every property has a kind of identity document called a caderneta predial. This document contains information about the property, and only the owner of the property can obtain it and have access to certain information about it.
The caderneta predial is needed to carry out various operations with the property and can even help you save a few euros in taxes. In this article we'll look at exactly what this document is, what it's used for and when it's needed.
What is the Caderneta Predial?
The caderneta predial is a document that contains all the information that may be useful, from a tax point of view, about a particular property. It is filled in by the tax office of the parish where the property is located, and only the owner(s) have access to it.
It is important to note that you cannot obtain a caderneta predial for a property of which you are not the owner. You can, however, request a land registry certificate, which contains some of the information contained in the caderneta predial. This certificate can help you find out who owns a property and whether there are any charges on it, for example.
What is it for?
The caderneta predial is used to consult tax information about a property, and is a document with legal value issued by the Tax Office. The information contained in the document includes the identification of the building, the calculation of the property value, the location and physical characteristics.
The information in the booklet depends on the type of property. Using the caderneta predial of an apartment as an example, we find:
- Identification of the building: mentions the district, municipality, parish, and matrix article;
- Location of the building: the location of the building is essentially its address;
- Description of the building: the land registry includes a short description of the building, mentioning whether it is rustic or urban, and whether it is a horizontal property regime;
- Area of the building and fraction: mentions the total area of the land, of the building, total gross private area, and others;
- Identification of the fraction: the booklet includes the location of the apartment fraction, its use (for what purpose it is intended), the typology (number of rooms), and the respective permillage (used to calculate the condominium fee);
- Confrontations: describes the geographical orientation of the building;
- Valuation of the property: includes the year of inscription in the matrix, the formula for calculating the Tax Asset Value (VPT), the respective VPT, the coordinates of the property, and when the valuation was made;
- Owners: in the booklet you can see the tax identification details and address of the respective owners, as well as their type of ownership and share.
- The document also mentions how it was obtained and the date it was obtained. It remains valid for 12 months, after which time you will have to obtain it again.
When is it needed?
The caderneta predial can be necessary in various situations and can even help you save money. It's essential when you're buying a property, as its details are used to draw up a promissory contract of sale and the deed.
You may also need to show the caderneta predial when applying for a mortgage, when obtaining an energy certificate, or when concluding water or electricity contracts. You may also need the caderneta when taking out home insurance.
The caderneta predial can also be used simply to provide information about the property or its owners, as well as to prove the tax and registration status of that property. This information, as mentioned, can also be found in other documents that don't reveal as much as the caderneta.
This is also necessary to help you save on taxes. In the property book you can see the VPT and the calculations used to determine it. This value is used to determine the Municipal Property Tax (IMI) you pay, as well as the value of the Municipal Property Transfer Tax (IMT).
If the VPT is out of date, you may be paying more IMI than you should. Using the tax office simulator you can see, for example, the value of the location coefficient for your area. The DECO simulator available at paguemenosimi.pt can also help. If the coefficients are out of date, you can fill in IMI model 1 to request a revaluation of the VPT.
The information you find in the land registry can be useful in a number of other situations. The permilage, for example, helps you determine the condominium fee to pay. The document is not normally used as proof of address.
Where to obtain a land register.
You can obtain a caderneta predial from the tax office either physically or online. Physically, you'll have to go to an office and show your identification document. You will need to know the property's matrix number.
Issuing this document at the tax office, it should be noted, has an associated cost. To get around this, you can obtain the caderneta predial online via the Portal das Finanças. To do this, you'll need your Tax Identification Number (NIF) and password - the same one used to fill in the IRS or consult the IMI tax bill.
As described on this last page of the Portal das Finanças, land registers issued online have the same validity - and legal value - as those issued in person at tax offices, the difference being that you don't pay for them. This is in accordance with Ministerial Order no. 894/2004 of 22/07.
Source: https://www.doutorfinancas.pt