Italy
Italy: 7 company types, its taxes, banking and business environment, and what it is known for.
Forming a company
Company types in Italy
The 7 forms a founder can choose here, each with its own figures. Open one for its sources.
What it is known for
Where Italy is in the world’s top 10 on a measure anyone can check, the best rank first. Only the top is shown; a low rank is never stated.
- World’s1stWorld-leading exports Jewellery of precious metalArticles of jewellery and parts thereof, of precious metal or of metal clad with precious metalUS$16.6 bn · 13.5% of world exports of 209 exporters · 2024 CEPII BACI, January 2026 release See the top 10
- World’s3rdWorld-leading exports Medicines, in measured dosesMedicaments (excluding goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006) consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses (including those in the form of transdermal administration systems) or in forms or packings for retail saleUS$38.4 bn · 8.0% of world exports of 209 exporters · 2024 CEPII BACI, January 2026 release See the top 10
- World’s3rdWorld-leading exports Luggage, handbags and casesTrunks, suitcases, vanity cases, executive-cases, briefcases, school satchels, spectacle cases, binocular cases, camera cases, musical instrument cases, gun cases, holsters and similar containers; travelling-bags, insulated food or beverages bags, toilet bags, rucksacks, handbags, shopping-bags, wallets, purses, map-cases, cigarette-cases, tobacco-pouches, tool bags, sports bags, bottle-cases, jewellery boxes, powder boxes, cutlery cases and similar containers, of leather or of composition leather, of sheeting of plastics, of textile materials, of vulcanised fibre or of paperboard, or wholly or mainly covered with such materials or with paperUS$10.7 bn · 13.3% of world exports of 224 exporters · 2024 CEPII BACI, January 2026 release See the top 10
- World’s5thTax-treaty network Income-tax treaties in force105 of 100 treaty networks we hold the tax authority's own list (tax-treaties collection) See the top 10
A rank is among everything the source reports for that year, so it moves when the source adds or drops economies. Exports include goods passing through for re-export. Nothing here is a recommendation.
Doing business here
Business accounts
Providers whose own published list of countries names Italy. A listing means a company formed here may apply, not that it will be accepted.
Not in our records No provider's country list has been read for Italy.
EU listings
Two lists a bank checks when it opens an account for a company or its owner.
- EU high-risk third countries (AML)
- Not listed
- EU non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes
- Not listedOfficial EUR-Lex, 52026XG01465, Annex I as of 2026-02-17
Official sites
The authorities’ own sites for Italy: where to register, file and check.
Blocs and agreements
The trade arrangements Italy belongs to, as each arrangement’s own texts state them: since when, and what each covers. What a membership means for a business is for you to judge.
- European Union: internal market and customs union
- Single market · since 1958
Covers goods, services, establishment, capital, movement of people, a common external tariff.
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EU Member State since 1958, Euro area member since 1999, Schengen area member since 1997 and more about Italy’s participation in the EU.
- European Union: VAT territory
- Inside it
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‘Community’ and ‘territory of the Community’ mean the territories of the Member States as defined in point (2);
- Euro area
- Monetary union · since 1999
Covers a common currency.
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EU Member State since 1958, Euro area member since 1999, Schengen area member since 1997 and more about Italy’s participation in the EU.
- Schengen area
- Free movement area · since 1997
Covers movement of people.
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EU Member State since 1958, Euro area member since 1999, Schengen area member since 1997 and more about Italy’s participation in the EU.
- European Economic Area
- Single market · since 1 January 1994
Covers goods, movement of people, services, establishment, capital.
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which now covers the EU and its 27 Member States, and three of the four EFTA members: Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
Regional and customs arrangements only, 36 of them; bilateral trade agreements are not yet in our records.
Tax
Company tax
Tax, and what the company owes the registry each year.
- Corporate income tax
- 27.81%
- Distributions
- Not in our records
- Audit
- Control body and auditor are mandatory only when the conditions of art. 2477 c.c. are met.Official The registry or ministry page as of 2026-10-10
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L’organo di controllo e il revisore contabile sono obbligatori solo in presenza di determinate condizioni previste dall’art. 2477 c.c.
- Small-company relief
- Not in our records
- Annual obligations
- Not in our records
- Annual registry fee
- EUR 120Official The registry or ministry page as of 2026-10-14
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Società di capitali (SRL, SPA) 120,00 24,00
VAT
The tax on what the company sells in Italy, and when it must register, as the tax authority states it.
- Standard rate
- 22%Official European Commission, Taxes in Europe Database situation on 2026/07/01
- Other rates
- 10% Domestic electricity and gas supplies, medicines, and specific goods and services for building renovation work
- 5% Certain foodstuffs listed in the VAT decree
- 4% Foodstuffs, drinks and agricultural products listed in Table A to DPR 633/1972
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10% , per esempio per la fornitura di energia elettrica e del gas per usi domestici, i medicinali, gli interventi di recupero del patrimonio edilizio per specifici beni e servizi.
- Registration threshold
- No threshold: from the first taxable supply
no turnover threshold: VAT registration is mandatory for anyone carrying on a business, agricultural, artistic or professional activity on a regular basis
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VAT registration is mandatory in Italy for persons engaging in the following activities: business or agricultural activity or an artistic or professional activity on a regular basis.
- A foreign company
- Registers from its first taxable supply; no local representative required
A non-resident business must discharge VAT obligations in Italy when it supplies final consumers or non-commercial entities there; it need not register where its Italian customers are exclusively VAT-registered businesses established in Italy. It may either appoint an Italian tax representative or register directly for an Italian VAT number, the latter open to EU residents and to residents of third countries with reciprocal agreements.
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Foreign operators are not required to register for VAT in Italy if their customers in Italy are exclusively other VAT entities established in Italy.
- Returns filed
- Monthly
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VAT taxpayers must calculate and pay VAT periodically on a monthly basis or, in some cases, on a quarterly basis
- Tax authority
- Registration page read 2026-10-22
Tax calendar
When the main returns and payments fall due in Italy, tax year 2026, as the tax authority states it.
- Corporate tax return
- 10 months after the end of the accounting period · each year
IT: la dichiarazione Redditi SC va inviata entro l'ultimo giorno del decimo mese successivo a quello di chiusura del periodo d'imposta; per un periodo d'imposta coincidente con l'anno solare il termine è il 31 ottobre, spostato al 2 novembre 2026 perché il 31 ottobre cade di sabato. EN: filed by the last day of the tenth month after the end of the tax period (31 October for a calendar-year company, moved to the next working day when it falls on a weekend).
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La dichiarazione va inviata ... entro l'ultimo giorno del decimo mese successivo a quello di chiusura del periodo d'imposta. Pertanto ... il termine per presentare la dichiarazione è fissato al 2 novembre 2026 (il 31 ottobre 2026 cade di sabato).
- Corporate tax, final payment
- 30 June · each year
IT: il saldo IRES per l'anno 2025 è versato in unica soluzione o come prima rata entro il 30 giugno 2026, senza maggiorazione; è possibile differire al 30 luglio con la maggiorazione dello 0,40%. EN: the IRES balance is paid in a single sum or as the first instalment by 30 June 2026, with no surcharge, or deferred to 30 July with a 0.40% interest surcharge. The rule records the ordinary 30 June date.
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Adempimento 30 Giugno 2026 ... Cosa: Versamento, in unica soluzione o come prima rata, dell'Ires, a titolo di saldo per l'anno 2025 e di primo acconto per l'anno 2026, senza alcuna maggiorazione
- Corporate tax, instalments
- 30 June · twice a year
IT: il primo acconto IRES per l'anno 2026 è versato, in unica soluzione o come prima rata, entro il 30 giugno 2026 (o entro il 30 luglio con la maggiorazione dello 0,40%); il secondo acconto entro il 30 novembre 2026. EN: the first advance is paid with the balance by 30 June (or 30 July with a surcharge), and the second advance by 30 November; the rule records the first. The Scadenzario listed no entry for 30 November 2026 at the time of reading, so that date rests on the general two-instalment schedule.
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Adempimento 30 Giugno 2026 ... Cosa: Versamento, in unica soluzione o come prima rata, dell'Ires, a titolo di saldo per l'anno 2025 e di primo acconto per l'anno 2026, senza alcuna maggiorazione
- Personal income-tax return
- 30 September · each year
IT: la dichiarazione modello 730/2026 si trasmette telematicamente entro il 30 settembre 2026; chi presenta il modello REDDITI Persone Fisiche ha tempo fino al 2 novembre 2026 (il termine ordinario del 31 ottobre 2026 cade di sabato). EN: the 730 return is filed by 30 September; the REDDITI PF alternative is due 2 November 2026. The rule records the 730 date as the standard case.
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Adempimento 30 Settembre 2026 ... Cosa: Trasmissione in via telematica all'Agenzia delle Entrate della dichiarazione modello 730/2026
- Personal income tax, final payment
- 30 June · each year
IT: il saldo IRPEF per l'anno 2025 è versato in unica soluzione o come prima rata entro il 30 giugno 2026, senza maggiorazione; è possibile differire al 30 luglio con la maggiorazione dello 0,40%. EN: the IRPEF balance is paid by 30 June 2026 (or 30 July with a 0.40% surcharge). The rule records the ordinary 30 June date.
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Adempimento 30 Giugno 2026 ... Cosa: Versamento, in unica soluzione o come prima rata, dell'Irpef risultante dalle dichiarazioni annuali, a titolo di saldo per l'anno 2025 e di primo acconto per l'anno 2026, senza alcuna maggiorazione
- Personal income tax, instalments
- 30 June · twice a year
IT: il primo acconto IRPEF per l'anno 2026 è versato, in unica soluzione o come prima rata, entro il 30 giugno 2026 (o entro il 30 luglio con la maggiorazione dello 0,40%); il secondo acconto entro il 30 novembre 2026. EN: the first advance is paid with the balance by 30 June (or 30 July with a surcharge), and the second advance by 30 November; the rule records the first. The Scadenzario listed no entry for 30 November 2026 at the time of reading, so that date rests on the general two-instalment schedule.
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Adempimento 30 Giugno 2026 ... Cosa: Versamento, in unica soluzione o come prima rata, dell'Irpef risultante dalle dichiarazioni annuali, a titolo di saldo per l'anno 2025 e di primo acconto per l'anno 2026, senza alcuna maggiorazione
- VAT return
- Day 16 of the following month · each month
IT: i contribuenti IVA mensili liquidano e versano l'IVA relativa al mese precedente entro il 16 del mese successivo. EN: monthly VAT filers settle and pay the previous month's VAT by the 16th of the following month; quarterly filers pay the quarter's VAT by the 16th of the second month after the quarter. The rule records the standard monthly case.
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Adempimento 16 Giugno 2026 Chi: Contribuenti Iva mensili Cosa: Liquidazione e versamento dell'Iva relativa al mese precedente
- Payroll withholding
- Day 16 of the following month · each month
IT: i sostituti d'imposta versano le ritenute operate nel mese precedente entro il 16 del mese successivo, a mezzo modello F24. EN: withholding agents pay the tax withheld in the previous month by the 16th of the following month. The rule records the ordinary monthly 16th.
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Sostituti d'imposta: versamento ritenute operate nel mese precedente Data scadenza: 16-09-2026
Running the company
Running a company here
Not in our records The authorities’ pages on running a company have not been read for Italy yet.
Economy and trade
What it exports
Goods Italy exported, by product, as a share of its goods exports each year. Exports include goods passing through for re-export. A share describes Italy’s own trade; it does not compare places.
| Product (HS heading) | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Value, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medicaments (excluding goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006) consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses (including those in the form of transdermal administration systems) or in forms or packings for retail sale HS 3004 | 5.4% | 5.6% | 6.0% | US$38.4 bn |
| Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, other than crude; preparations not elsewhere specified or included, containing by weight 70 % or more of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations; waste oils HS 2710 | 3.9% | 3.2% | 2.8% | US$17.7 bn |
| Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons (other than those of heading 8702), including station wagons and racing cars HS 8703 | 2.6% | 3.2% | 2.6% | US$16.7 bn |
| Articles of jewellery and parts thereof, of precious metal or of metal clad with precious metal HS 7113 | 1.5% | 1.8% | 2.6% | US$16.6 bn |
| Parts and accessories of the motor vehicles of headings 8701 to 8705 HS 8708 | 2.3% | 2.5% | 2.4% | US$15.2 bn |
| Human blood; animal blood prepared for therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic uses; antisera, other blood fractions and immunological products, whether or not modified or obtained by means of biotechnological processes; vaccines, toxins, cultures of micro-organisms (excluding yeasts) and similar products; cell cultures, whether or not modified HS 3002 | 1.8% | 1.7% | 2.0% | US$12.6 bn |
| Trunks, suitcases, vanity cases, executive-cases, briefcases, school satchels, spectacle cases, binocular cases, camera cases, musical instrument cases, gun cases, holsters and similar containers; travelling-bags, insulated food or beverages bags, toilet bags, rucksacks, handbags, shopping-bags, wallets, purses, map-cases, cigarette-cases, tobacco-pouches, tool bags, sports bags, bottle-cases, jewellery boxes, powder boxes, cutlery cases and similar containers, of leather or of composition leather, of sheeting of plastics, of textile materials, of vulcanised fibre or of paperboard, or wholly or mainly covered with such materials or with paper HS 4202 | 1.6% | 1.8% | 1.7% | US$10.7 bn |
| Taps, cocks, valves and similar appliances for pipes, boiler shells, tanks, vats or the like, including pressure-reducing valves and thermostatically controlled valves HS 8481 | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.5% | US$9.3 bn |
| Wine of fresh grapes, including fortified wines; grape must other than that of heading 2009 HS 2204 | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.4% | US$8.7 bn |
| Footwear with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather and uppers of leather HS 6403 | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.3% | US$8.1 bn |
Total goods exports, 2024: US$639.7 bn. The ten largest headings are shown.