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2026 UPDATE: Puerto Rico enacted Act 38-2026 on March 10, 2026, amending the Act 60 framework for Resident Individual Investors. Applications submitted on or before December 31, 2026 remain subject to the tax framework applicable to that group, while applications submitted on or after January 1, 2027 are generally subject to a 4% preferential Puerto Rico income tax rate on qualifying interest, dividends, and certain post-residency capital gains. Eligibility, residency requirements, decree terms, and individual circumstances may affect the benefits available. Always consult qualified Puerto Rico tax and legal advisors before making decisions.

ACT 60: WHAT CHANGED & WHEN

  • Individuals who submit a qualifying Act 60 Resident Individual Investor application on or before December 31, 2026, generally remain under the tax framework applicable to this group, subject to eligibility requirements, bona fide Puerto Rico residency, decree terms, and ongoing compliance.

  • Under Act 38-2026, individuals who apply on or after January 1, 2027 are generally subject to a 4% preferential Puerto Rico income tax rate on qualifying interest, dividends, and certain capital gains accrued after becoming a bona fide Puerto Rico resident, rather than the prior 0% treatment.

    Eligibility, sourcing rules, residency requirements, decree terms, and individual circumstances can affect the final tax treatment. Buyers considering relocation should coordinate their real estate timeline with qualified Puerto Rico tax and legal advisors.

WHO QUALIFIES — BONA FIDE PUERTO RICO RESIDENCY

Receiving an Act 60 decree and obtaining its intended tax treatment are not the same as simply owning a home in Puerto Rico. Resident Individual Investors must establish and maintain bona fide Puerto Rico residency and satisfy applicable federal and Puerto Rico requirements.

ACT 60 AT A GLANCE

FAQs About Puerto Rico Tax Incentives (Act 60)

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1. WHEN DOES THE NEW 4% RATE BEGIN?
For Resident Individual Investor decree applications submitted on or after January 1, 2027, Act 38-2026 generally establishes a 4% preferential Puerto Rico income tax rate for qualifying interest, dividends, and qualifying post-residency net capital gains, subject to the statute and decree terms.
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2. WHAT HAPPENS IF I APPLY BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 2026?
Act 38-2026 preserves the statutory treatment applicable to Resident Individual Investors who submit their decree application on or before December 31, 2026, subject to eligibility, decree terms, residency, and continuing compliance.
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3. DO I HAVE TO BUY A HOME IN PUERTO RICO TO QUALIFY?
Real estate ownership and bona fide residency are separate concepts. A Puerto Rico residence may be an important part of a relocation plan, but purchasing property by itself does not establish Act 60 eligibility or bona fide residency.
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4. DO I HAVE TO SELL MY U.S. HOME?
Not necessarily. However, maintaining a home outside Puerto Rico may be relevant to the facts-and-circumstances analysis surrounding tax home and closer connection. This should be reviewed with qualified tax counsel.
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5. WHAT CHANGED FOR PEOPLE APPLYING AFTER 2026?
In addition to the new preferential tax framework, applicants submitting after December 31, 2026 must demonstrate that they were not Puerto Rico residents for at least six years before moving to Puerto Rico.
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6. HOW CAN INVESTATE PUERTO RICO HELP?
INVESTATE Puerto Rico focuses on the real estate side of relocation. We help clients evaluate communities, understand local housing markets, identify public and private opportunities, analyze properties, negotiate acquisitions, and coordinate the real estate transaction alongside the client’s legal, tax, and financial advisors.

RELOCATION BEGINS WITH MORE THAN TAX PLANNING

Understanding Act 60 is one part of the decision. Choosing where and how to live in Puerto Rico is another.

INVESTATE Puerto Rico advises relocation buyers on the real estate side of the move—from comparing communities such as Dorado, Condado, Guaynabo, Río Grande, and Isla Verde to evaluating properties, market values, ownership considerations, and acquisition strategy.

We coordinate with your attorneys, CPAs, lenders, and other advisors so your real estate decisions fit within your broader relocation plan.

DISCLAIMER

This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, accounting, or investment advice. Act 60 eligibility and tax treatment depend on individual circumstances, decree terms, residency requirements, applicable law, and continuing compliance. Consult qualified Puerto Rico legal and tax professionals before making decisions.

Last reviewed: September 4, 2026.

PLANNING A MOVE TO PUERTO RICO?

Act 60 may influence the financial side of your relocation. We help you navigate the real estate side. From choosing the right community to evaluating and acquiring the right property, INVESTATE Puerto Rico provides local representation throughout your move.