IRC 2026: Government extends deadline for submitting "Modelo 22"

The Government has announced the postponement of the deadline for submitting the Corporate Income Tax Return (Modelo 22) until June 19, 2026. This additional breathing room is a strategic opportunity for companies to optimize their use of investment tax benefits, such as the RFAI.

Through a recently published decree, the Ministry of Finance confirmed the extension of the deadline, which was originally set to end on May 31. This decision was made in response to the severe weather conditions that hit the country in February, aiming to facilitate the fulfillment of reporting obligations by companies.

More time for RFAI: Recover part of the productive investment made in 2025

For companies that carried out relevant investments in the last fiscal year (2025), this extension of approximately three weeks is particularly valuable regarding the RFAI (Investment Support Tax Regime).

Since the RFAI is deducted directly from the Corporate Income Tax (IRC) calculated in Modelo 22, this extra time allows companies to:

• Finalize the assessment of all eligible investments with greater precision;
• Ensure that all supporting documentation is in full compliance;
• Maximize the tax deduction, ensuring that no investment eligible for the benefit is left out of the declaration.

The SIFIDE deadline remains unchanged

Despite the extension of the IRC submission deadline, it is essential that companies do not confuse this schedule with that of other tax benefits.

Yunit warns that the deadline for submitting applications for SIFIDE II (System of Tax Incentives for Business R&D) remains fixed at May 31, 2026.

Unlike RFAI, which is processed in Modelo 22, SIFIDE requires a prior application to ANI (National Innovation Agency). Therefore:

1. Until May 31: You must submit your SIFIDE application to validate Research and Development expenses.
2. Until June 19: You must submit the Corporate Income Tax Return (Modelo 22), where you can apply RFAI deductions and, subsequently, SIFIDE deductions.

About RFAI

The Investment Support Tax Regime (RFAI) is a tax benefit that allows companies to deduct from their Corporate Income Tax (IRC) a percentage of the investment made in tangible assets (such as machinery, equipment, or building construction works) and intangible assets (such as technology transfer), provided they are allocated to the company's operations and contribute to job creation. Currently, this regime allows for the recovery of up to 30% of investments, impacting the tax payable directly, which makes it one of the most effective tools for corporate capitalization and for fostering the competitiveness of the Portuguese business fabric. Request more information about RFAI here.