Observatory
Incentive for postponing retirement: the new framework and clarifications from INPS
25 July 2025With Circular No. 102 dated June 16, 2025, INPS has provided operational instructions for applying the incentive to postpone retirement, as set out in Article 1, paragraph 161, of the 2025 Budget Law (Law No. 207/2024). This new regulation replaces the one introduced by the 2023 Budget Law (Law No. 197/2022), expanding the range of potential beneficiaries. The measure no longer targets only workers who meet the requirements for flexible early retirement but also those who, by December 31, 2025, qualify for ordinary early retirement.
To benefit from the incentive, one must have alternatively met the requirements for either of the two types of early retirement outlined in the law. Specifically, for flexible early retirement, known as “Quota 103”, eligibility requires being at least 62 years old and having at least 41 years of contributions. For ordinary early retirement, the required contribution period is 41 years and 10 months for women, and 42 years and 10 months for men, regardless of age.
Additionally, the incentive is aimed at employees who choose to continue working, opting to waive the payment of the “IVS” share of social security contributions due from the worker. According to the law, the worker may choose not to have their share of contributions paid by the employer and instead receive the equivalent amount directly in their payslip. However, the employer’s contribution obligation remains, and the IVS quota due from the employer continues to feed the worker’s social security account according to standard rules.

It is important to note that the worker can exercise this waiver only once in their working life. Furthermore, the circular provides for the possibility of revoking the waiver — also allowed only once — effective from the first day of the month following the communication.
Applicable treatment of the incentive
A key aspect of the measure is the tax treatment of the amounts paid to the worker in place of the IVS contributions the employer would have paid on their behalf. According to the 2025 Budget Law and confirmed by the Revenue Agency’s Resolution No. 45/2025, these amounts are subject to the provisions of Article 51, paragraph 2, letter i-bis) of the TUIR, meaning they do not count towards taxable employment income. As a result, they are paid in full to the worker, tax- and contribution-free.
Start and end of the benefit
As clarified by the INPS circular, the exemption starts based on when the worker chooses to exercise the waiver. If exercised before meeting retirement eligibility, the exemption starts on the date the requirements are met. If exercised on or after the eligibility date, it starts on the first day of the following month. The end of the benefit is triggered not only by revocation but also by specific conditions, including reaching the statutory retirement age or obtaining a direct pension, except for the ordinary disability allowance.
Compatibility with other incentives
According to the circular, the incentive is compatible with other contribution reductions that apply exclusively to the employer’s share. However, it cannot be combined with incentives affecting the worker’s contribution share. Therefore, if the employment relationship already includes a full or partial reduction of the worker’s contribution share, this retirement deferral incentive does not apply.