Tax comparison
Several European countries offer special tax regimes to attract new residents. The right one depends entirely on how you earn. This compares the main regimes in Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Greece side by side, so you can see which fits your situation before you choose where to move.
Side by side
| Regime | Country | Best for | Headline tax | Years | Key condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neo-residents flat tax | Italy | High foreign income / HNW | Flat EUR 300,000/yr on all foreign income (EUR 100k-200k for pre-2026 movers) | 15 | Not Italian tax resident 9 of the prior 10 years |
| Non-dom lump-sum | Greece | High foreign income / HNW | Flat EUR 100,000/yr on all foreign income (+EUR 20k per family member) | 15 | EUR 500,000 investment in 3 years, or hold a Greek Golden Visa; not resident 7 of 8 years |
| 7% pensioner regime | Greece | Foreign pensioners | 7% on all foreign income | 15 | Foreign pension; not resident 5 of 6 years; live anywhere in Greece |
| 7% pensioner regime | Italy | Foreign pensioners | 7% on all foreign income | 10 | Move to a southern town under 30,000 people (from 7 April 2026) |
| Beckham Law | Spain | Inbound employees & directors | 24% on Spanish employment income to EUR 600,000 (47% above) | 6 | Not Spanish tax resident the prior 5 years; opt in within 6 months |
| Impatriati | Italy | Inbound skilled workers | 50% of Italian work income exempt (60% with a minor child), up to EUR 600,000 | 5 | High qualification; 4-year stay commitment |
| Impatriate regime (5C) | Greece | Inbound workers | 50% of Greek work income exempt | 7 | Greek-source work; 2-year stay commitment |
| IFICI ('NHR 2.0') | Portugal | Researchers & highly-qualified roles | 20% on eligible Portuguese income; certain foreign-income types exempt | 10 | Narrow role/entity eligibility; no foreign-pension break |
As of 2026. Special regimes change with annual budget laws and have strict eligibility and deadlines; figures and rules are confirmed by a licensed tax adviser in each country. Portugal's legacy NHR regime is closed to new arrivals (grandfathering applies); IFICI is its successor.
The lump-sum regimes tax all of your foreign income at a fixed amount regardless of size. Italy's neo-residents flat tax suits the largest foreign incomes; Greece's non-dom is a lower flat fee but expects a EUR 500,000 investment (waived if you hold a Greek Golden Visa).
Both Italy and Greece tax all foreign income at a flat 7%. Greece lets you live anywhere in the country; Italy requires a small southern town (under 30,000 people from 7 April 2026) but the option is otherwise similar. Portugal's old NHR pension break is closed to new arrivals.
These regimes discount tax on income you earn locally. Spain's Beckham Law caps employment tax at 24% to EUR 600,000; Italy's impatriati and Greece's 5C exempt 50% of work income; Portugal's IFICI gives 20% on eligible income but only for narrow, highly-qualified roles.
NHR/IFICI, filing, NIF, and US tax for Americans.
View Portugal tax servicesBeckham Law, wealth and solidarity tax, Modelo 720, autonomo.
View Spain tax servicesFlat tax, impatriati, 7% pensioner, filing, and setup.
View Italy tax servicesNon-dom, 7% pensioner, impatriate, filing, and AFM.
View Greece tax servicesCommon questions
There is no single best one - it depends on your income type. For large foreign investment income, Italy's neo-residents flat tax and Greece's non-dom lump-sum are designed for high net worth. For a foreign pension, Italy and Greece both offer a 7% flat tax. For people relocating to work, Spain's Beckham Law, Italy's impatriati, Greece's 5C, and Portugal's IFICI discount tax on locally earned income. A licensed adviser in the relevant country confirms which fits.
No. Portugal's classic Non-Habitual Resident regime closed to most new arrivals from 1 January 2024, with grandfathering for earlier qualifiers. Its successor, IFICI, is narrower and role-based and does not give the foreign-pension break NHR did.
It varies by regime. The lump-sum (Italy neo-residents, Greece non-dom) and the 7% pensioner regimes apply a flat charge to all foreign income. Spain's Beckham Law mainly taxes Spanish employment income and largely leaves other foreign income untaxed. The work-based reliefs (impatriati, 5C, IFICI) discount locally earned income. None remove your home-country obligations - US citizens, for example, keep filing US returns wherever they live.
The lump-sum and Greek pensioner regimes run up to 15 years; Italy's 7% pensioner regime runs 10 years; Greece's 5C impatriate relief 7 years; Spain's Beckham Law 6 years; Italy's impatriati 5 years; Portugal's IFICI 10 years. Each is generally non-renewable and has its own application deadline.
No. Special tax regimes are set by annual budget laws and change - Italy's flat tax rose from EUR 100,000 to EUR 300,000 between 2024 and 2026, and several income-tax scales were cut for 2026. Treat every figure here as a 2026 guide and confirm the current position and your eligibility with a licensed tax adviser in the relevant country before relying on it.