The caderneta predial — in full, the caderneta predial urbana for an urban property — is the official tax record of a property in Portugal. It is issued by the tax authority (Autoridade Tributaria, known as Financas), and it identifies the property, its registered owner and its taxable value. It is one of the key documents a buyer must check before purchase.
What the caderneta predial shows
- The property's tax registration reference (the artigo matricial).
- Its location, description and built area.
- The VPT (valor patrimonial tributario) — the official taxable value.
- The registered owner.
Why it matters to a buyer
The VPT is not a market price, but it is the figure used to calculate your IMT (transfer tax) and your annual IMI (municipal property tax) — so it directly affects what you pay. The registered owner on the caderneta should match the person selling to you. And if the caderneta describes fewer rooms or less area than the property actually has, that is a red flag for unlicensed building work. You can estimate your transfer tax with our IMT calculator.
Caderneta predial versus Certidao Permanente
This distinction is essential. The caderneta predial is the tax record, held by Financas. The Certidao Permanente do Registo Predial is the land registry record, held by the Conservatoria, and it shows legal ownership and any mortgages or charges on the property. They are different documents from different authorities — and a buyer must check both. The escritura cannot proceed cleanly if they do not agree.
How to get the caderneta predial
The owner can download it free from the Portal das Financas. In a purchase, your lawyer obtains and reviews it as part of due diligence. See our property lawyer guide for what that check involves.
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