Complaints are mounting, and obtaining an explanation is challenging: thousands of students are still awaiting the refund of tuition fees under the Salary Award, a measure introduced under António Costa’s government. The amount was supposed to be paid by the end of July but has not been.
The Notícias ao Minuto is attempting to contact the Ministry of Finance for further clarification on the matter, but so far, no response has been received.
However, on social media platforms of the Tax Authority (AT), several young people are questioning the delay: “And the salary award? When do you plan to resolve this situation?”
No justification has been provided so far, and according to SIC Notícias, this is just another delay, adding to the Porta 65 program, where some individuals have been waiting for eight months for a response and the money.
What is the Salary Award?
According to information available on the Finance Portal, the “salary award for the enhancement of qualifications in the labor market aims to reward the pursuit of higher education and simultaneously contribute to the enhancement of the income of qualified young people working in the country“.
It is “a financial incentive, where the amount paid is fixed and paid annually for a number of years equivalent to the regular duration of the study cycle leading to the awarding of each academic degree, as long as the other eligibility criteria are met annually”.
“The payment can occur consecutively or intermittently, as long as all eligibility criteria are met”, explains the AT in a brochure on the topic.
Payment deadline has passed
According to the same document from the Tax Authority, “by the payment deadline for the Salary Award (July 30 of each year), the AT will provide detailed information on the determination, allocation, and order of transfer for the payment of the award, on the taxpayer’s personal page on the Finance Portal”.
The PSD, CDS-PP, and Chega rejected today the PS initiative to ensure that the salary award granted to young workers as a form of tuition fee refund is cumulative with the IRS Jovem.
Lusa | 21:46 – 10/07/2025
How much is received?
In the case of a bachelor’s degree, the amount paid is 697 euros, and for a master’s degree, it is 1,500 euros (in an integrated master, the years corresponding to the bachelor’s degree entitle 697 euros, and those related to the master’s degree the same 1,500 euros).
The IRS Jovem is a special tax regime that allows taxpayers to benefit from reduced IRS for a certain period, through partial exemption of taxation on a percentage of the annually earned income. This exemption varies over time, and the fiscal incentive period can last ten years, provided the beneficiaries do not exceed 35 years of age.
The PSD, CDS-PP, and Chega once again blocked a PS initiative for legislation to explicitly allow the salary award granted to young people as tuition fee refunds to be cumulative with the IRS Jovem.
Lusa | 14:17 – 16/07/2025
