Accountants association says IRS reimbursements at standstill

The annual IRS reimbursements from Portugal’s tax authority are at a standstill with thousands of tax returns pending.

This is according to Paula Franco, president of Portugal’s Association of Accountants in an interview with Jornal de Negócios and RTP’s Antena 1.

According to Franco’s analysis, initially, refunds for automatic returns were quick, but now the process is practically stalled. In the interview, Paula Franco offered no justification for this delay on the part of the tax authority.

In the same interview, Paula Franco also addressed the controversy surrounding the Single Social Benefit, acknowledging the merit of the measure in curbing abuses. However, she believes the measure needs to be well explained to those who benefit from it, and this includes continuing to prioritise an in-person service.

Portugal’s Single Social Benefit (Prestação Social Única or PSU) is a sweeping reform designed to simplify the country’s social welfare system. It consolidates 13 distinct non-contributory solidarity support programmes—including the Social Integration Income (RSI)—into a unified system with consistent criteria and processes.

Source: Jornal de Negócios/RTP Antena1