IRS refunds remain, in May 2026, one of the tax topics with the greatest direct impact on the cash flow of households and self-employed workers in Portugal.
Despite the growing automation of the process, relevant questions still arise regarding deadlines, calculation methods, and the main factors that influence the amount to be received.
At FA ACCOUNTING, we handle hundreds of IRS cases every year and have observed that, in 2026, refund delays are often linked to simple but avoidable errors.
What is an IRS refund?
An IRS refund occurs when the taxpayer has paid more tax than required and the Tax Authority determines a positive balance in their favor.
Refund deadlines in 2026
- Automatic IRS: 7 to 15 days
- Simple returns: 15 to 30 days
- Complex returns: 30 to 60 days or more
Maximum legal deadline: August 31, 2026.
How it is calculated
Difference between total tax assessed and withholdings + deductions.
Main causes of delay
- Errors
- Invalid IBAN
- e-Fatura discrepancies
Best practices
- Confirm IBAN
- Validate invoices
- Submit early
Note: Informational content (2026).