Currently, the IUC is paid in the month corresponding to the vehicle's registration, but from next year, this will no longer happen. The new rules establish that the tax will be charged, in a generalised way, during the month of February.
If the amount is equal to or less than €100, payment must be made by the end of that month. If it is higher, the taxpayer may choose to pay the total amount in February or divide the payment into two instalments: February and October, according to SIC Notícias.
The IUC (Vehicle Circulation Tax) is an annual tax that must be paid by all owners of motor vehicles registered in their name, whether individuals or companies. During the first year of registration, payment must be made within 30 days of the legal deadline for vehicle registration. When the car is purchased new from a dealership, the tax is paid at the time of purchase.
The amount to be paid varies according to the vehicle category, the year of registration, the engine displacement, the type of fuel, and carbon dioxide emission levels. The government divides vehicles into seven distinct categories, which determine the final tax calculation.
New rules
Until now, the IUC was paid during the month of the car's registration; for example, a car registered in March had the tax to pay by the end of March. From 2026, this rule will cease to exist. All taxpayers will have to make the payment in February, which means that the tax will no longer be distributed throughout the year. For families with multiple cars, this change could concentrate the financial burden in a single month, forcing more careful budget planning, according to the same source.
The government justifies the change with the high rate of late payments, often caused by simple forgetfulness. The Minister of Finance, Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, explained that many people no longer remember the month they bought their car and therefore end up missing the deadline.
More recent registrations, without indication of the registration month, also contributed to this confusion. Standardizing payment in February aims, therefore, to reduce oversights and facilitate control by the Treasury.
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I have just had notification to pay €326 this month. Do I have to pay again in February?
By Paul Harris from Alentejo on 08 Nov 2025, 09:27
What a load of rubbish.all they want to do is get a load of money in the coffers straight away and those who forget will still get a fine so it's a win win situation for the authorities.
My IUC is due in January so do I wait until February then pay it and get a fine as well or pay it in January and then get another IUC demand in February so infact I pay twice.
What about owners of large fleets of vehicles,will they be expected to pay the IUC on all the vehicles in installments.
Let's see if this works!
By Peter from Other on 08 Nov 2025, 11:58
If your tax is due in May will 3months you have already paid be adjusted?
By Carol Emery from Algarve on 08 Nov 2025, 12:17
What would have made this feature more informative, and dare I say it, intelligent, would have been to explain the process of what happens if you've already paid the tax in previous months. Do you get a discount for the months already paid? Or are some unfortunates who paid in January expected to pay double tax in February? Confusion aside, what we can definitely expect is that the GNR will smell profits with abundant road blocks and document checks in March.
By Ross Eccles from Algarve on 09 Nov 2025, 08:10
The email reminder I niw get works perfectly fine. Unless they forget to send me that reminder! Government efficieincy at work!
By Jean-Claude Audet from Beiras on 09 Nov 2025, 11:04
If you paid the IUC in October, November or even December, you will have to pay this tax again in February 2026. In other words, you will pay the car tax twice in a short space of time, although it is for different years. However, if your IUC is more than £100, you can choose to split the payment into two equal instalments: the first paid by the end of February and the second by the end of October.
By Teresa Pole-Baker Gouveia from Porto on 09 Nov 2025, 12:42