Chega has proposed an amendment during the discussion of the State Budget for 2026 aimed at reducing and standardizing the VAT rate applied to the hospitality and catering sector, setting it at 13% for all services provided, including alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, according to the party’s statement.
Chega argues that the current tax framework for catering is “fragmented and incoherent,” with meals taxed at 13% while alcoholic beverages and soft drinks are at 23%. The party warns that “this differentiation creates tax asymmetry, administrative complexity, and violates the principle of fiscal neutrality, penalizing businesses and confusing consumers.”
The party states that this measure aims to “promote economic activity, strengthen the competitiveness of companies, and defend one of the most relevant sectors for the national economy.”
“The hospitality and catering sector is a pillar of the Portuguese economy. It creates thousands of jobs, stimulates local economies, and projects Portugal as an excellent tourist destination. The State must recognize this contribution by creating fairer and more balanced fiscal conditions,” the party argues, asserting that the “uniformity of the rate will bring direct benefits to micro and small businesses, enhancing their sustainability and competitiveness against their European competitors.”
The party believes that reducing the VAT on beverages consumed in catering will “stimulate domestic consumption, attract tourism, and generate more overall revenue for the State indirectly,” describing it as “a measure of common sense, fiscal justice, and strategic vision for the country.”
