The Chilean Internal Revenue Service (SII) has officially launched the 2026 Income Tax Operation, requiring individuals and businesses to declare annual earnings via Form 22. The process began on April 1, with authorities expecting more than 5.1 million declarations this year.
According to El Mostrador, the SII has already prepared over 4.1 million automated proposals to streamline the filing process. Taxpayers are advised to carefully review all information before submission to avoid errors that could delay payments or refunds. During this initial stage, refunds will focus exclusively on individuals.
The filing period for Form 22 extends from April 8 to April 30. The schedule for receiving tax refunds depends on when the declaration is submitted. According to El Mostrador, there are also potential discounts for those with outstanding obligations related to the University Credit (Crédito Universitario) or the State-Guaranteed Loan (CAE).
Those who file between April 1 and April 8 will receive payments on April 29. Declarations made between April 9 and April 23 will be paid on May 15, while filings from April 24 to May 8 will see deposits on May 27. For those opting for payment via check, funds will be available on May 29, regardless of the filing date.
Additionally, El Mostrador reported that key dates have been set for associated processes, such as replacements, electronic payments of contributions (PEC), and online electronic payments (PEL), scheduled between April 24 and April 30. The SII mandates filing for anyone who earned more than $11,265,804 in 2025, had multiple employers, or issued professional service receipts (boletas de honorarios) and seeks social security coverage.
Increased scrutiny of digital transactions
Parallel to the tax season, the SII is intensifying its monitoring of bank transfers to identify undeclared income. The agency tracks accounts receiving more than 50 transfers from different senders in a single month or more than 100 transfers over a six-month period.
El Mostrador reports that exceeding this threshold does not trigger an automatic fine. Instead, it activates an automatic report to the SII to identify recurring movements linked to informal commerce or tax evasion.
This monitoring specifically targets individuals selling products or services without formalizing their business activities with the SII. While occasional payments, such as those for school fundraisers or charity raffles, are generally not reviewed, the agency suggests keeping records to prove the origin of funds.
If the SII detects undeclared income, it may require taxpayers to formalize their activities, pay back taxes, and face corresponding fines. Taxpayers can check if they have been reported by reviewing the information provided by the SII on its official website.
Failure to file taxes within the established deadlines can lead to fines and interest, according to the agency. The SII also notes that taxpayers can rectify their declarations after submission, though this may alter refund timelines or trigger additional audits.
