If you haven't seen your IRS refund in your account yet, you may not have to wait much longer.
The IRS 2026 campaign - for 2025 income - started two weeks ago on April 1st, and the first refunds have already begun arriving in Portuguese taxpayers' accounts. Good news for those who filed early.
How Long Does It Take?
Timelines depend on how you filed:
- Automatic IRS: less than two weeks after submission
- Standard filing: between three to three and a half weeks
The Secretary of State for Tax Affairs, Cláudia Reis Duarte, confirmed that this year's timelines are expected to be "close to or similar to last year" - and in 2025, the Automatic IRS came in under two weeks.
Automatic IRS Covers More People This Year
This year, Automatic IRS is expected to cover around two million declarations, up from 1.7 million in 2025. The increase is largely due to the inclusion of workers up to age 35 covered by IRS Jovem - meaning less work for more Portuguese taxpayers.
What Changed in Your 2025 Income?
Throughout 2025, three different withholding tax tables were in effect, resulting from mid-year tax changes:
- January to July - first table
- August and September - second table, reflecting retroactive tax relief
- October to December - third table
Despite the changes, Tax Authority data shows that about two-thirds of settled declarations still generate a refund. So if you were wondering whether you'll get money back, the odds are in your favour.
⚠️ Warning: Your Refund May Be Seized
Have tax debts? Your refund may not reach your pocket. If there are active tax enforcement proceedings when the credit is issued, the Tax Authority automatically applies the debt amount before returning the remainder.
The good news: if your refund exceeds the debt, you receive the difference.
Haven't Filed Yet?
If you haven't submitted your IRS declaration yet, the deadline runs until June 30th. Taxpayers in areas affected by recent storms have until the end of April for other tax obligations.
If you have questions about your IRS declaration or need support, contact Grupo Your. Our certified accountants can help you maximise your refund.
