Heavier paycheck in March: how the Irperf cut works

Higher paychecks starting March 2026. This is not a one-time bonus or a company award, but the concrete effect of a package of measures approved at the end of 2025 that begins to reflect in employees' pay slips. Thanks to a combination of tax reforms and targeted incentives, millions of workers will have more disposable income, with a variable impact based on income and individual pay components.

The IRPEF reform: relief for the middle class

The core of the intervention is the reduction of the IRPEF tax rate for the second bracket: starting January 1, 2026, the tax rate will decrease from 35% to 33% for incomes between €28,001 and €50,000. The benefit can theoretically reach up to €440 gross per year for those covering the entire bracket.

For example: with a Gross Annual Salary (RAL) of €35,000, one will pay 2% less on the €7,000 exceeding the €28,000 threshold, resulting in a net and certain savings of €140 per year.

A neutralization mechanism is planned for very high incomes: above €200,000 total, the deductions (generally at 19%) will be reduced by €440, effectively nullifying the advantage of the rate cut.

Targeted tax exemption: renewals, bonuses, and shifts

Alongside the structural intervention on the IRPEF, three tax levers based on substitute taxes are introduced for 2026, aimed at easing specific components of compensation:

Contract renewals at 5%. Increases resulting from the renewal of national collective labor agreements signed between 2024 and 2026 will be taxed at a flat rate of 5% instead of the ordinary IRPEF. The incentive applies to private sector employees with a 2025 income not exceeding €33,000 and is automatically applied to actual table increases. On €1,000 gross more, the net gain is several hundred euros, avoiding the jump to a higher tax bracket.

Performance bonuses at 1%. For the two-year period 2026-2027, the taxation of performance bonuses will drop to 1%, with a maximum ceiling raised to €5,000 gross. In practice, a bonus of €2,500 will result in just €25 in tax.

Night work, holiday work, and shifts at 15%. The related increases will be subject to a substitute tax of 15%, up to a limit of €1,500 per year. For many workers, this will translate into dozens of net euros more each month.

Meal vouchers: tax-free ceiling at €10

The regulation of meal vouchers is also changing: for electronic vouchers, the tax exemption limit increases from 8 to 10 euros per day. Paper vouchers remain at 4 euros. This increase benefits workers, who will be able to better cover the cost of meals, and companies that adopt digital systems.

Who benefits the most: typical profiles

Profile A (€26,000): does not benefit from the IRPEF cut because it remains in the first bracket, but gains an advantage from the potential increase of meal vouchers to €10.

Profile B (€35,000 with shifts): saves €140 annually on IRPEF, takes advantage of the reduced tax rate of 15% on shift allowances, and adds the benefit of meal vouchers.

Profile C (€30,000-€32,000 with CCNL renewal and bonuses): is the real "winner" of the season. It combines the IRPEF reduction, the contractual increase taxed at 5%, and the performance bonus with a nearly symbolic rate of 1%. For this profile, the increase in net income can easily exceed several hundred euros per year.