How to Check and Pay Your Vehicle Tax (IUC) in Portugal

If you own a vehicle in Portugal, you pay an annual road tax called IUC (Imposto Único de Circulação). It is charged to whoever is the registered owner, and it is your responsibility to pay it on time even if no letter arrives. The good news is that the whole process lives on the Portal das Finanças, so you can check what you owe and settle it in a few minutes. Here is how it works.

What IUC is and how much it costs

IUC is the yearly tax for circulating a vehicle on Portuguese roads. There is no single flat fee. The amount depends on your engine size, the vehicle's CO2 emissions, and its age, so two cars registered in the same month can owe very different sums. Because the brackets are revised periodically, always check the current figure shown on the portal rather than relying on last year's amount.

How to check your IUC on Portal das Finanças

You will need your taxpayer credentials to log in. If you do not have a tax number yet, you can get your Portuguese NIF online before you start.

Log in to the Portal das Finanças with your NIF and password.
In the search bar, type "Pagamentos a Decorrer" and open that service.
Click Aceder to see your pending payments.
Filter the list for IUC.
Select Ver Detalhe to view the breakdown and the payment reference.

The detail screen shows the amount due and the reference numbers you need to pay.

When IUC is due

At present, IUC is due by the last day of your vehicle's registration (matrícula) month each year. For example, if your car was first registered in March, your deadline is 31 March. This is the rule to follow for now.

There is an important change ahead. From 2027, payment moves to a single annual deadline in April for everyone. This change was originally planned for 2026 and has been deferred. Under the new system, larger bills can be split: amounts above 100 euros may be paid in two instalments, and amounts above 500 euros in three. Until that takes effect, keep using your matrícula month as the deadline, and verify the current rules each year in case the timeline shifts again.

How to pay

Once you have the reference from the Ver Detalhe screen, paying is straightforward. Use the reference to pay by Multibanco at an ATM or through your bank's home banking service. Keep the proof of payment in case you ever need to show that the tax was settled.

Related tax tasks worth knowing

IUC is one of several taxes you will meet as a resident or owner in Portugal. If you own property, the same portal handles checking and paying your IMI property tax. At tax season, you can also review the figures by accessing your IRS tax assessment. And if you are still getting set up in the system, it helps to understand what a NIF is and why you need one before any of these services will work.

A quick note on the portal's menus: keep your contact and address details current under Domicílio Fiscal and Notificações so reminders reach you, and remember that company or fleet owners may handle filings through Representação or their Atividade records.

Need a NIF before you can log in and check your IUC? Get your Portuguese NIF online with coepi for a flat 29.99 euros, fully online with same-day submission.