This guide provides an overview of VAT in Italy, including applicable rates, registration requirements, compliance obligations, and filing deadlines. It is designed for businesses engaging in transactions within Italy.
of the EU’s biggest VAT gaps lies in Italy, where billions in tax revenue go uncollected annually.
Foreign businesses that incur VAT on eligible expenses in the Italy may be able to reclaim it.
*Food, drink & restaurant services are only reclaimable in very limited circumstances.
Doing business in Italy? You’ll need to play by the IVA’s VAT rules.
There are no registration thresholds. Any legal entity, whether established in Italy or otherwise, must register for VAT by submitting an AA7/10 Form within 30 days of commencing taxable economic activity in Italy.
Italy follows the EU’s ESS VAT rules. Businesses providing digital services (e.g., website hosting, software, digital media) must apply the VAT rate based on the consumer’s location, often utilizing the OSS system for cross-border services.
If VAT in Italy has been charged incorrectly on an invoice, the entity would generally not be entitled to include the invoice in an Italy VAT refund. The entity would need to contact the supplier that charged the incorrect VAT in Italy and request a refund of the VAT in Italy that was incorrectly charged. This is something that VAT IT will be able to assist with. We can contact the supplier on your behalf and request a refund of the incorrectly charged VAT in Italy.
An Italy VAT refund application should be submitted before 30 September of the year following the year in which the VAT in Italy was incurred, for a VAT refund in Italy under both the 8th Directive and 13th Directive. VAT refunds in Italy can be made quarterly and annually, however the claiming periods for Italy VAT refunds are not allowed to overlap with one another.
Processing times for a VAT refund in Italy can vary. Businesses reclaiming a VAT refund in Italy can expect it to take anywhere from a few months to a year, depending on the claim complexity and submission accuracy.
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