Portugal Net Salary Calculator 2026
Calculate your net salary from your gross pay, or the gross you'd need for a target net, using the 2026 Portuguese withholding tables for Mainland, Azores and Madeira.
Estimated net salary / month
€0
Base salary
€0
IRS withheld
€0
Social Security (11%)
€0
How withholding tax works in Portugal
The amount you receive every month already has IRS (income tax) withheld at source, following official tables published each year (separate orders for Mainland, Azores and Madeira, each region with its own table). That withholding is an estimate of your annual tax, not the final amount, the definitive figure is only settled with the following year's IRS tax return, which can result in a refund or additional tax owed. Social Security, on the other hand, is always a flat 11% of the amount subject to it, with no brackets.
The applicable table depends on your situation (single, married with two earners, or married with a single earner working) and your number of dependents, each combination has its own table with different rates and deductions.
Mainland, Azores and Madeira: why the amount changes
The autonomous regions have their own withholding tables, with lower rates than the Mainland. In the Azores, the reduction is a fixed percentage (around 30%) applied to all Mainland marginal rates. In Madeira the reduction doesn't follow a single formula, it's set table by table in the regional order, and for 2026 it was extended to more brackets than in previous years.
Meal allowance: what's exempt and what isn't
The meal allowance has a daily ceiling exempt from IRS and Social Security: higher if paid via a meal card than in cash. The portion of the allowance above that ceiling is treated as regular pay, it enters that month's IRS and Social Security calculation just like the base salary does.
Holiday and Christmas subsidies: lump sum or spread out
By law, you're entitled to a holiday subsidy and a Christmas subsidy, each normally equal to one month's base salary. They can be paid in full (in the month they're due) or spread across the year in twelfths, 1/12 of each subsidy added to every month's pay. The total over the year is the same either way, only the timing changes. Each subsidy paid as a lump sum is withheld at the rate that would apply to that amount received all at once, so it can look "heavier" in that specific month.
What this calculator doesn't replace
These figures are a careful estimate based on the official 2026 withholding tables, but your actual payslip may include other elements this simulator doesn't model (allowances specific to your contract, deductions for dependents with disabilities, among others). For questions about your specific payslip, talk to your employer's HR department.
Frequently asked questions
Is the IRS withheld here my final tax for the year?
No. Monthly withholding is an advance estimate based on official tables, not your final tax bill. The definitive amount is only settled the following year in your IRS tax return, which can result in a refund or additional tax owed.
Why is Social Security always 11%, with no brackets?
Unlike IRS, employee Social Security contributions are a flat 11% of your taxable base (base salary plus any taxed meal-allowance excess), regardless of how much you earn. There's no progressive scale the way there is for IRS.
Why is the amount different in the Azores or Madeira?
Both autonomous regions apply their own, lower withholding tables. In the Azores, the reduction is a flat ~30% off every Mainland marginal rate. In Madeira, the reduction isn't a single formula, it's set table by table in the regional order, and for 2026 it covers more brackets than in previous years.
How much of my meal allowance is tax-free?
Up to a daily ceiling: €10.455 if paid via meal card, €6.15 if paid in cash or bank transfer (card is legally 70% higher). Any amount above that ceiling is treated as regular pay and taxed like your base salary.
Should I take the holiday/Christmas subsidies as a lump sum or as duodécimos?
The total you receive over the year is exactly the same either way, only the timing changes. Paid as a lump sum, each subsidy is withheld at the rate that would apply to that full amount in one go, so it looks "heavier" in that specific month. Spread as duodécimos (1/12 of each subsidy added to every month's pay), the impact is smoother but less visible as a single payment.
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