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Italy

Manual
Value Added Tax (VAT)
Local Language:
Imposta sul valore aggiunto
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VAT Rates
Standard rate
22%
Reduced rate
10% and 5%
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Bulk VIES VAT number checker
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VAT Basics

Italian VAT rates

See here a recent change on certain VAT rates.

Italy has opted for the reduced and super-reduced VAT rates on a number of items allowed by the VAT Directive (source: European Commission):

  • Foodstuff
    4%, 5% and 10%*
  • Water supplies
    10%
  • Pharmaceutical products
    10% and 22%
  • Medical equipment for disabled persons
    4% and 22%*
  • Children´s car seats
    22%
  • Passenger transport
    0% and 10%
  • Books
    4% and 22%*
  • Books on other physical means of support
    4% and 22%*
  • Newspapers
    4%*
  • Periodicals
    4% and 22%*
  • Admission to cultural services (theatre, etc)
    10%
  • Admission to amusement parks
    22%
  • Pay TV / cable
    22%
  • TV licenses
    4%
  • Writers / composers
    0% and 22%
  • Hotel Accommodation
    10%
  • Restaurant and catering services
    10%
  • Admission to sporting events
    10% and 22%
  • Social services
    0%, 5% and 22%
  • Medical and dental care
    0%
  • Shoes and leather goods
    22%
  • Clothing and household linen
    22%
  • Hairdressing
    22%

*Super-reduced rate of 4% applies on certain foodstuff items, certain medical equipment for disabled persons, books, newspaper and certain periodicals. There are expected changes on the VAT rate applicable on admission to cultural events (currently standard rated).

Deduction limits in Italy

As a general rule, Italian VAT can only be deducted as long as the expense is fully and entirely connected to the business activity of the taxpayer. The below items are generally deducted at the following rates:

  • Input VAT on meals and beverages is 0% deductible.
  • Entertainment expenses are 0% deductible unless they involve the purchase of goods with a value below €25.82.
  • Input VAT on fuel, car rental expenses and gas is only deductible at a rate between 20% and 40%. Certain businesses with an activity directly related to this expense can deduct VAT at a higher rate, or even at 100%.
  • Costs related to aircraft and leisure yachts are not deductible.
  • Taxi, train and other transport expenses are 0% deductible.

Deducting VAT prior to the beginning of the economic activity is only allowed under certain conditions. As a general rule, a company may recover VAT incurred prior to a VAT registration once all historic returns and VAT payments have been regularized. All late filing and late payment penalties should also be settled before deducting these amounts. A case by case analysis must be made."

Italian statute of limitations

Regarding deduction of input VAT, since 1 January of 2017 taxpayers can claim VAT up to the 30 April of the following the year in which VAT became originally deductible. This date matches the due date for the Annual VAT return, hence VAT on acquisitions and imports will be deductible at the latest with the annual VAT return in the year in which the right of deduction arises.

Nevertheless, the statute of limitations covers a much longer period regarding output VAT. In this case, tax authorities can request the payment of VAT until the 31 December of the fifth year following the period in which the annual VAT return was due. The five years statute of limitation may be extended, for example, if the annual VAT return was not submitted, or if the information requested by the tax authorities is not provided in time.

Italian tax point rules

The tax point is the time when VAT becomes due. The following rules apply when determining the applicable tax point in Italy:

  • General rule: Tax point arises when the goods are placed at the disposal of the customer. In case of transport of goods, tax point arises when the transport begins.  For services, the tax point occurs when the payment is made.  For immoveable property, the tax point arises when the contract to transfer the title of property is signed.
  • Prepayments or advanced payments create a tax point. In these cases, VAT is due when the prepayment is made. Similarly, the issuance of an invoice also creates a tax point.
  • Intra-Community acquisitions: Tax point occurs at the beginning of the transport. In case the transfer of title occurs after the transport is made, the tax point arises when the title of the goods is passed to the customer.
  • Intra-Community supplies: Tax point occurs at the beginning of the transport or, if earlier, when an invoice is issued.
  • Import: Tax point occurs when the goods are imported according to the relevant import documents or when the goods leave a duty suspension regime.

VAT due should be distinguished from VAT payable. VAT is due when the tax point occurs. VAT is payable between the day after the end of the reporting period and the due date to submit and pay the VAT return.

VAT registrations and simplications in Italy

VAT number Italy

As a general rule, a foreign business must register for VAT in Italy as soon as a taxable supply is made. The following are some usual examples of taxable transactions:

  • Domestic supply of goods not reverse charged: A supply of goods located in Italy to an Italian customer where the supply is not subject to reverse charge requires a VAT registration of the supplier.
  • Supply of services not reverse charged: Foreign non-established businesses supplying services on which Italian VAT is due must register for VAT. These services are rather exceptional, as the general B2B rule would apply.
  • Export: Exporting goods to a non-EU country requires a VAT number before the export is made.
  • Intra-Community acquisition: Acquiring goods from another Member State where all conditions for intra-Community movements are met requires the customer to register for VAT.
  • Intra-Community supply: Supplying goods another Member State is also a taxable transaction that obliges the supplier to register for VAT.
  • Distance sales: When applicable in case the Seller has not joined OSS. See the E-commerce manual for more information.

Voluntary registration is not possible in Italy. This is, companies cannot register if they have not made a taxable transaction. There is no registration threshold in Italy for non-established companies. Any company foreign and non-established company performing taxable transactions should register for VAT before the first supply is made. Tax authorities may impose a penalty amounting from EUR500 to EUR2,000 for failing the obligation of registering in Italy.

A backdated registration is not possible in Italy. In case the taxpayer has performed taxable transactions before the VAT registration, a regularization is mandatory. This is known as ravvedimento operoso: you must calculate all VAT due together with the applicable penalties and submit all the pending VAT returns.

Italian VAT number Format

  • Country code: IT
  • Structure: IT99999999999
  • Format (excludes 2 letter alpha prefix): 1 block of 11 digits

Italian fiscal representative

Non-EU businesses must appoint an Italian fiscal representative when registering for VAT purposes in Italy. Like other EU countries, the fiscal representative is jointly and severally liable for the tax debts of the company.

In practice, where a fiscal representative is appointed, this representative may require a bank guarantee to cover the risk of tax liabilities imposed by the Italian authorities. This guarantee is different from the bank guarantee required when requesting a VAT refund.

EU businesses can register directly for VAT purposes. This means that the legal representative of the company can sign the registration form without any local Italian involvement. UK companies can also register directly for VAT purposes, not requiring the appointment of a fiscal representative.

Contact us if you need more information on Italian registration requirements for EU and non-EU companies.

Italian VAT groups

There are two VAT grouping arrangements in Italy.

The joint VAT registration is an administrative simplification for VAT groups in Italy. Group members can net off their VAT credits and debits into one consolidated annual VAT return. However, intra-group transactions are subject to VAT and each member maintains an individual VAT number. The parent company uses its own VAT number to identify the group.

In January 2019, Italy introduced the full VAT groups regime. Where more than one taxable persons are closely bound by financial, economic, and organizational links, these companies may form part a VAT group and be treated as a single taxable person for VAT purposes in Italy. A VAT group implies that there is a company and one or more controlled entities.

Concerning the VAT group conditions, financial links exist when the same person or business directly or indirectly holds more than 50% of the voting rights. Organizational links exist when the management of the controlled entities is fully dependent of the controlling entity. Economic links exist where the entities exercise one main activity of the same nature, of interdependent activities or complementary, ancillary and auxiliary.

In addition, the following VAT grouping rules apply in Italy:

  • Italian established taxable and non-taxable persons can be part of a VAT group. Also, the Italian subsidiaries of a foreign company can form a VAT group provided that the foreign entity is established in a country with an exchange of information agreement in place with Italy.
  • VAT grouping is optional in Italy. Companies can apply for a VAT group when meeting the requirements or they can choose to remain separate entities for VAT purposes. However, if the option for a VAT group is made, all the related companies must be part of it.
  • There is a specific time frame to apply for the VAT groups regime: the option can be applied until the 30 September for being effective from January of the following year. The application form is AGI/1.
  • Once the application is approved, a group VAT number is granted to the group. While the VAT group is active, the individual VAT numbers are dormant.
  • Intra-group transactions are disregarded for VAT purposes, but they must keep records of these transactions. This does not apply to supplies made or receive to an overseas branch or head office – implementing the ECJ decision on the Skandia case.
  • Every group member is jointly and severally liable for the VAT debts and penalties of the entire group.
  • The minimum time period for a VAT group is three years. After the first three years, the option is automatically renewed until expressly revoked.
  • Members of a VAT group submit one single consolidated VAT return – periodical VAT returns and the annual VAT return. It is not possible to file separate VAT returns for each entity.

Italian consignment and call-off stock

The EU introduced a call-off stock simplification that all EU Member States must implement. This simplification allows businesses to operate under a consignment stock structure without having to VAT register in the country of destination. Italy has implemented this simplification.

In the past, when a foreign supplier sent goods to an Italian warehouse to store these goods locally and supply them to an Italian customer as and when required by the client, this foreign supplier had to register for VAT purposes in Italy.

However, where the EU call-off stock simplification applies, the Italian VAT registration of the foreign business is not required, and the transaction is treated as a “direct” intra-Community supply of goods from the foreign business to the Italian client, allowing a reduction of compliance costs and administrative burdens, as well as cash-flow benefits for the client.

Bad debt relief in Italy

Bad debt is possible in Italy, however, compared to other EU countries, there are several requirements to be met.

In principle, it is possible to recover the VAT on bad debt if a credit note has been issued, but additional conditions apply:

  • If the adjustment results from the agreement of the parties, the credit note must be issued no later than one year from the transaction date.
  • In case of bankruptcy, the credit note must be issued no later than the deadline to submit the annual VAT return of the year where the deduction right arises.
  • The previous terms for issuing the credit note may be extended under certain conditions.

Italian import VAT deferral and postponed import VAT

Normally, import VAT is paid upon arrival of the goods, directly to the Customs authorities. The customs document (bolleta doganale) is used as a proof of the import VAT payment.

However, to compensate for the cash flow disadvantages of these rules, most countries allow simplification where this VAT is either paid at a later stage (so called "import VAT deferral allowance") or import VAT is reverse charged in the next VAT return of the business importing the goods. Postponed import VAT accounting does not exist in Italy. It is not possible to report import VAT in the VAT return as input and output.

Deferring the import VAT allows for payment of import VAT by the last day of month following the month in which importation took place.  A bank guarantee must be given by the importer. Also, Customs authorities may allow a further delay but upon the payment of an interest. Once the final terms of the deferral are agreed, the Customs authorities issue an authorization for the taxpayer. For example, where an import is made on 15 January, deferred import VAT can be paid by 28 February. Import VAT will be deducted when the VAT return is submitted. Italian import VAT deferral must be requested on a separate application to the tax authorities.

Italian customs and VAT warehouses

VAT warehouse simplification is available in Italy for EU cleared goods (T2). These goods have already paid customs duties. There is no VAT due on goods sold within a VAT warehouse.  However, while goods are in a VAT warehouse, they cannot be sold to a non-taxable person. Once the goods leave the VAT warehouse regime, they will be subject to Italian VAT. This VAT treatment will depend on whether the goods entered the regime as a domestic purchase, in which case VAT must be charged, or they entered the goods as intra-Community acquisitions, in which case the reverse charge applies on the first supply following the VAT warehouse suspension. The warehouse keeper is jointly and severally liable for the payment of VAT of the first supplier. There is penalty of 30% of the VAT due foreseen on all missed payments related to the VAT warehouse regime. The following goods are not allowed to be stored in a VAT warehouse:

  • Non-EU goods, except if the importer provides Customs authorities with a warranty for the amount of the import VAT. This warranty is not requested from Authorized Economic Operators and other taxpayers authorized by the Italian tax authorities.
  • Temporarily imported goods.
  • Goods stored temporarily before receiving a Custom destination.
  • Goods imported as part of an inward processing relief.

The list of goods admitted in VAT warehouses is subject to changes. Contact us for more information. Customs or bonded warehouses are available for goods that have not cleared customs in the EU (T1). VAT and excise duties are not due when these goods are directly placed in the Customs warehouse. As soon as they exit this regime, these amounts are due. No VAT is due on the supply of goods in a Customs warehouse, but an invoice must be issued stating that the amount is not subject to VAT. Furthermore, in Italy there are VAT-free zones. Here, goods can be transformed, processed or stored without paying VAT or customs duties.

Reverse Charge in Italy

Italian reverse charge for non-established suppliers

According to art. 194 of the VAT Directive, Member States may implement an optional reverse charge on supplies made by non-established businesses. Italy has introduced an extended version of this reverse charge.

  •  Supplier requirements
    Not established in Italy (irrelevant if the supplier is registered or not for VAT).
  •  Customer requirements
    Established and VAT registered in Italy.
  • Scope
    All supplies of goods Supplies of services located in Italy (exceptions to the B2B rule).

Where a non-established supplier sells goods or services to an established and VAT registered client, domestic reverse charge applies. It is not relevant if the supplier is registered or not. Regarding the customer, he must be established and VAT registered.

Italian reverse charge on B2B services

Article 196 of the VAT Directive requires the reverse charge mechanism on all services subject to the B2B rule introduced in art. 44 of the same Directive. The B2B rule locates the transaction where the business customer is located. In case the customer is a private individual, B2C rules locate the transaction where the supplier is located. According to the general B2B rule, any business not established in Italy supplying services to an Italian registered customer will not charge any VAT and the transaction will be reverse charged by the customer. There are however a number of exceptions to this rule. Where these exceptions apply and the above conditions are met, reverse charge is still applicable in Italy provided the customer is established and VAT registered:

  • Services connected to immoveable property are located where the property is located
  • Passenger transport services will be located where the transport takes places (apportioned if necessary)
  • Catering services are located where the catering takes place
  • Short term leasing of means of transport are located where the vehicle put at the disposal of the customer
  • Access to conferences, fairs and exhibitions is located where the event takes place

Italian reverse charge on specific goods

Domestic reverse charge may also apply on certain goods with different conditions in each case. This regime is often introduced on products that are more likely to be used for carousel fraud purposes.

The conditions for reverse charge to apply change depending on the goods traded.

  • IT equipment: Reverse charge applies on mobile phones, video-consoles, laptops and tablets. This scheme includes components such as chargers, cables and accessories, as well as micro-processors and integrated circuit devices.
  • Supplies of investment gold and gold of a purity higher than 32.5%
  • Certain supplies of immoveable property under the option of taxation (article 17 (6-a-bis), of Presidential Decree no. 633/1972).
  • Supply of construction work, including supply of staff working in the construction sector, repair, cleaning, maintenance.
  • Supply of services under contract work – for example, contractors, subcontractors, etc., when the service is mainly carried out at the customer’s premises and using assets its assets. Also, general contract work services related to construction work.
  • Supply of gas and electricity to a taxable reseller, including gas and electricity certificates.
  • Supply of emission allowances and similar units.
  • Supply of used materials, scrap, and waste.
  • Supply of recycled pallets.

Generally, the above reverse charge scenarios apply provided that the customer is an Italian taxpayer, ie, that is VAT registered in Italy. In consequence, the purchase of the above products or services does not ring for a mandatory VAT registration of the customer in Italy.

Italian use and enjoyment rules

Member states can introduce another exception to the B2B rule according to the place where the services have been used and enjoyed. This exception may be introduced to avoid double taxation (positive use and enjoyment rules) or avoid non-taxation (negative use and enjoyment rules) or both.

Italy has introduced the use and enjoyment rule bringing the place of supply to Italy on services in the following scenarios:

  • short-term leases of means of transport, including financial leases, or similar services supplied to taxable or non-taxable persons when they are put at the customer’s disposal or used in Italy – B2B and B2C; and,
  • long-term leases of means of transport, including financial leases, or other similar services supplied to non-taxable persons - B2C.

VAT returns in Italy

Frequency of Italian VAT returns

All VAT registered businesses must submit VAT returns on a quarterly basis, and keep VAT books records on a monthly basis, which are submitted upon request of the tax authorities. In addition, monthly or quarterly VAT payments must be made depending on the company's turnover in Italy. This threshold is different for goods and for services. Where the annual turnover exceeds EUR 800,000 for companies supplying goods and services; and EUR 500,000 for companies supplying services exclusively, monthly VAT payments are due. If this threshold is not exceeded, quarterly VAT payments must be made.

Frequency of filing

    • Standard reporting period
      Quarterly always (see payments below)

Frequency of payment

    • Monthly
      Turnover above: EUR 500.000 for services EUR 800.000 for goods. The reference should be the previous year.
    • Quarterly
      Turnover below: EUR 500.000 for services EUR 800.000 for goods. The reference should be the previous year.

When the taxpayer is paying VAT quarterly, the amount due should be increased by 1% to pay for index price fluctuations.

Italian VAT return due dates

Regarding due dates, we should differentiate between VAT returns and VAT payments.

Italian VAT payments due dates

Italian monthly VAT calculations must be paid by the 16th day of the month following the reporting period. Quarterly VAT calculations must be paid by the 16th day of the second month following the reporting period for the first three calendar quarters of the year. As a general rule, quarterly VAT calculations follow the calendar quarter (January to March, April to June, etc). For example, the second quarter VAT calculation of 2023 is due by 16 August 2023. Your VAT payment must reach the tax authorities bank account by the same due date. If the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or bank holiday, the date is shifted to the next working day. In addition to monthly or quarterly VAT payments, an annual prepayment must be made by the 27 December.

  • VAT payment frequency
    VAT payment due date
  • Monthly
    16th day of the month following the reporting period
  • Quarterly
    16th day of the second month following the reporting period.  The fourth quarter VAT payment of the year is normally due by an extended deadline
  • Annual prepayment
     27th of December

When the taxpayer is paying VAT quarterly, the amount due should be increased by 1% to pay for index price fluctuations.

Italian VAT returns

The due date to submit quarterly VAT returns is the end of the second month following the reporting period. There is a holiday extension foreseen for the second quarter VAT return. The due date for Annual VAT returns is 30 April of the following year.

  • VAT return
    VAT return due date
  • Monthly VAT return
    Not applicable
  • Quarterly VAT return
    Last working day of the second month following the quarter
  • Annual Summary VAT return
    30 April of the following year

Italian VAT payments

VAT payments must reach the bank account of the tax authorities by the due dates listed in our section for VAT return deadlines. As part of our VAT compliance service, Marosa will provide you with a Payment memo including the relevant IBAN, account holder and reference to be used when making your payment of Italian VAT. As a general rule, VAT payments of non-established companies registered directly for VAT purposes are made to the following bank account.

  • Bank account holder: BANCA D’ITALIA – Tesoreria centrale dello Stato
  • IBAN code: IT64 W010 0003 2453 4800 8120 301
  • BIC/SWIFT code: BITA IT RR ENT

However, you must check with Marosa before making a VAT payment using the bank details above, as these are often changed by the tax authorities. The reference to be used in your bank transfer is made up of the following information: Italian VAT number (11 numbers).Tax code (4 numbers).Tax year (4 numbers). In the payment reference it is essential to report exactly the indicated structure in numerical format containing the Italian VAT number, the tax code and the tax year, separated by a point (.) The Italian tax authorities publish a table with all possible fiscal codes to be included in your reference.

These codes are different for monthly or quarterly payments, also for annual returns and annual prepayments. All bank charges must be paid by the taxpayer. It is possible to net off previous VAT credits against the VAT payment. It is also important to allow 3-4 working days to make the payment, particularly on international bank transfers. For quarterly VAT payments, companies must increase the payment by 1% of the amount due. Established companies or companies registered via a fiscal representative must make the payment to the bank account of the tax office where the representative or permanent establishment is located. This account changes for each region. The fiscal codes, however, are the same throughout Italy.

Italian annual VAT prepayment

Italian taxpayers must make an advanced VAT payment in December concerning the VAT amount due for reporting period December – in case of monthly VAT payments, or Q4 – in case of quarterly VAT payments (Acconto IVA).

There are three methods to determine the amount to be paid in advance:

  • Historical method: according to which the advance payment for the month December or fourth quarter of the current year should be equal to 88% of the VAT payment made or that should have been made, for the same reporting period of the previous year.
  • Provisional or forecast method: according to which the advance payment should be equal to 88% of the VAT payment that the taxpayer estimates for the month of December or fourth quarter of the current year.
  • Analytical method: according to which the advance payment should be equal to the 100% amount of VAT due for the transactions, registered or that should have been registered, carried out from December 1st to December 20th, or from October 1st to December 20th, of the current year, considering:
  • the input VAT relating to the purchases registered in the same period and fully deductible.
  • the VAT credit carried forward from previous reporting period, if any.

The relevant payment references for the prepayment are the following:

  • Monthly VAT calculations: VAT number – Acconto IVA XXXX – codice tributo: 6013
  • Quarterly VAT calculations: VAT number – Acconto IVA XXXX – codice tributo: 6035

Unlike periodic VAT payments, ordinary quarterly taxpayers do not have to apply the 1% interest surcharge on the annual VAT prepayment.

The annual VAT prepayment in Italy is due by the 27 December of each year.

The VAT prepayment is not due in the following cases:

  • The prepayment amount resulting from the calculation is less than EUR 103,29.
  • Activities have started during the current year.
  • VAT de-registration during the year by 30 November for monthly payers and by 30 September for quarterly payers.
  • When only non-taxable or exempt transactions were carried out.
  • Special regimes or activities: agricultural producers "referred to in art. 34, paragraph 6, of Presidential Decree no. 633 of 1972"; subjects who carry out activities of shows and games under special regime; amateur sports associations, as well as non-profit and certain associations, on a flat-rate basis; collectors and dealers of scrap, waste, waste paper, glass and the like, exempted from the obligations to settle and pay the tax, etc.

Italian VAT refunds

Generally, VAT refunds in Italy are requested via the annual VAT return.

When the refund exceeds EUR 30,000, a bank guarantee is requested. The amount of the guarantee is equivalent to the amount of refund plus interest for a three-year period. The bank issuing the guarantee must be an Italian bank or an Italian subsidiary of a foreign bank.

When the refund does not exceed EUR 30,000 it is possible to get a repayment without submitting a bank guarantee. A certificate must be issued and signed by the legal representative certifying a number of requirements such as social security, sales of shares or ratio of net capital and fixed assets in the balance sheet. The representative is responsible under criminal law for this information. In addition to this certificate, the company must have their annual VAT return certified as "visto di conformita", which confirms that VAT return and VAT ledgers (calculated during the year) reconcile with each other, it should also confirm that VAT ledgers reconcile with each issued invoice. An Italian certified chartered accountant can issue the "visto di conformita".

Finally, certain taxpayers may opt to submit quarterly VAT refund claims. According to this procedure, the VAT refund claims can be done on a quarterly basis by submitting the TR form by the last day of the month following the reference quarter. As an exception, for the fourth quarter of the year the VAT refund claim cannot be done via form TR and should be requested via Annual VAT return. Non-established taxpayers VAT registered in Italy can opt for this quarterly refund regime, nevertheless, the procedure is quite cumbersome, and we do not recommend it because refund claim procedures tend to accumulate. Also, tax authorities may require a bank guarantee.

Before accepting the reimbursement of the VAT credit, the tax authorities may also request copies of invoices. Communications between the taxpayer or its tax agent or fiscal representative, and the tax office are usually followed by email or certified post.

Italian nil and corrective VAT returns

Regarding quarterly VAT returns, a nil VAT return only needs to be submitted in case there is a VAT credit from past periods which shall be carried forward. This does not apply to annual summary VAT returns, which have to be submitted even if there is no activity to be reported.

Regarding amendments to previously submitted data, corrections can be made to the annual VAT return that has been submitted by filing an additional declaration and ticking the option "Correttiva nei termini". When a corrective return is submitted after the deadline, a difference is made between those corrections filed in the following 90 days after the due date and those filed after 90 days have passed following the annual VAT return deadline.

Also, the quarterly VAT returns can be individually corrected before the submission of the annual VAT return. A new VAT return for the same reporting periods must be submitted for this purpose. The tax office will consider the last VAT return submitted. If there is additional VAT amount to be paid and the payment deadline is exceeded, it is recommended to perform a voluntary disclosure or ravvedimento operoso, in the local language, consisting of proactively calculating and paying the applicable penalties and surcharges. This is only possible if the regularization is made before the tax authorities initiate an audit procedure, and the advantage is that you will calculate penalties and surcharges at reduced rate.

Corrective VAT returns are submitted electronically.

Further details can be found on the Annual VAT return instructions published by the Italian tax authorities.

Italian tax authorities

Non-established companies have a dedicated tax office in Italy. Established companies, tax resident businesses and companies registered via a fiscal representative are appointed the tax office applicable to their region. The Pescara office is responsible for non-established VAT registered taxpayers. This tax office is also responsible for VAT refunds via the EU Refund mechanism, VAT refunds for non-EU companies and OSS VAT registrations:

Agenzia Delle Entrate Centro Operativo di Pescara Area Controlli Via rio Sparto 21 65129 Pescara (pe)

Italian distance sales. VAT on e-commerce

You can find information about the general EU VAT regime on distance sales in our manual about VAT on e-commerce. You may also watch our webinar explaining VAT rules for e-commerce in the European Union.

VAT penalties in Italy

  • Cause
    Penalty
  • Late filing
    If submitted within 90 days after the deadline: €25 fixed penalty. If submitted after 90 days following the deadline: €258 minimum penalty and between 120% and 240% of the VAT due.
  • Late payment
    There is a general penalty of 30% of the VAT due. However: - If paid within 90 days following the due date: this penalty is reduced by half. - If paid within 15 days following the due date: This penalty is further reduced by 1/15 per day (see example below). - If paid later, the general rule applies. Also, reduced interest rate is applied on late VAT payments following a voluntary disclosure, while increased interest rate is applied in case of payment following a tax audit or similar scenarios.

For example, a VAT payment of €1,000 performed two days after the due date is subject to a 0,4% penalty (30 x 2/15 x 1/10) due to spontaneous regularization. In addition to the above penalties, late payment interest must be added to the penalty amount. The interest rate is published by the Italian authorities every year. Late filing and late payment penalties are added together when a VAT return is not submitted nor paid to the tax authorities.

Intrastat Returns in Italy

Frequency and due date of Italian Intrastat

It is important to note that Intrastat and ESL returns are merged in Italy. A combined Intrastat return includes data for both, ESL and Intrastat filing.

Monthly Intrastat/ESL returns are due when the total amount of intra-Community supplies (goods or services) in the current or any of the previous four quarters exceeds €50,000. Unlike other EU countries, there are no exemption thresholds to submit this return in Italy.

Also, from January 2022, quarterly Intrastat returns are not due on intra-Community acquisitions of goods or services when these are below the above thresholds.

The due date to submit your Intrastat/ESL return in Italy is the 25th day of the month following the reporting period. In case the due date falls on Saturday, Sunday, or public holiday, the date is shifted to the next working day. In Marosa, you will receive a due date calendar with all statutory deadlines applicable each year.

Due date rules

    • Monthly
      25th day of the month following the reporting period
    • Quarterly
      25th day of the month following the reporting period

If the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or bank holiday, the date is shifted to the next working day. The Italian Intrastat authorities publish a calendar with all applicable due dates throughout the year.

Intrastat thresholds in Italy

As explained above, Italy merged Intrastat and ESL returns, this is why, unlike other EU countries, there are no Intrastat thresholds for dispatches in Italy. However, there are thresholds for the reporting frequency and to distinguish between detailed and simplified Intrastat returns.

For intra-Community acquisitions the following reporting thresholds apply: equal or higher than EUR 350,000 (goods) and equal or higher than EUR 100,000 (services) in at least one of the previous quarters. Important! The threshold is calculated on a quarterly basis, instead of the usual annual threshold that applies is most of the countries. Therefore, the threshold must be calculated based on the turnover reached per quarter, and not cumulatively in an annual basis.

Flow : I-C acquisition of goods
Quarterly: Not due
Monthly: Only due if = or > EUR 350,000 in at least one of the 4 previous quarters. You must check the turnover reached in a quarter.

Flow : I-C acquisition of services
Quarterly: Not due
Monthly: Only due if = or > EUR 100,000 in at least one of the 4 previous quarters. You must check the turnover reached in a quarter.

Flow : I-C acquisition of goods
Quarterly: Below EUR 50,000 in all the 4 previous quarters
Monthly:

    • Simplified IST return: = or > EUR 50,000 and below EUR 100,000 in at least one of the 4 previous quarters.
    • Detailed IST return: = or > EUR 100,000 in at least one of the 4 previous quarters.

Flow : I-C acquisition of services
Quarterly: Below EUR 50,000 in all the 4 previous quarters
Monthly: Only due if EUR 50,000 in at least one of the 4 previous quarters (always simplified IST return).

Italian nil and corrective Intrastat

If there are no intra-Community transactions to be reported in a given period, a nil Intrastat return is NOT due in Italy.

Corrective Intrastat returns

Depending on the flow and type of transaction, different forms must be used to correct previously reported Intrastat returns.

  • Intra1Ter is used for correcting IC-supplies of goods
  • Intra1Quinquies is used for correcting IC-supplies of services

Corrections on periods reported within the last 12 months can be made with the sign minus or plus, depending on the correction made. More information about corrective Intrastat returns is available in  the manual published by the Customs authorities. - ADM or Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli.

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Finland Removes the Obligation to Submit Intrastat Arrivals from January 2026

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EU Removes the Customs Duty Exemption for E-Commerce: What Changes in 2026?

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Poland Proposes Increase VAT Rate for Certain Non-Alcoholic and Energy Drinks

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