In this article, the author provides a guide on how to help foreign pensioners and their families who are moving to Italy with filing taxes. It includes a list of useful information in Italian and English as well as breakdowns of some important documents needed for an individual’s tax extension.
Please note this article was original posted in 2021, some of the conditions have changed and you might want to connect via the foot of the page to get up to date information.
The provision no. 167878/2019 by the italian Income Revenue Authority contains instructions for foreign pensioners who decide to move to the south of Italy and obtain the flat tax of 7%.
The amount to pay is calculated on a flat-rate basis at the rate of 7% on income produced abroad.The option is valid for the first 5 years following the one in which it is exercised.
In particular, in the tax return the taxpayer is required to state the 5 requirements that give the right to the option:
- The status of non-resident in Italy for a time at least equal to 5 tax periods prior to the start of validity of the option;
- The jurisdiction or jurisdictions in which the taxpayer had his last tax residence among those in which administrative cooperation agreements in the tax area are in force;
- The home State of the foreign person paying the income;
- The amount of foreign source income to be subject to tax.
In order to benefit from the reduced taxation it is necessary that the subjects transfer their tax residence to one of the Italian municipalities belonging to the territory of Sicily, Calabria, Sardinia, Campania, Basilicata, Abruzzo, Molise and Puglia, with a population not exceeding 20.000 inhabitants.
In order to identify the resident population in the municipality in which the transfer of residence is decided, you need to take into account the data resulting from the “Annual municipal survey of the movement and calculation of the population” published on the website of the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) referred to January 1st of the year prior to the first year of validity of the option.
The 7% preferential taxation ceases after five years following the tax period in which the option is exercised.
The forfeiture of the benefit, on the other hand, occurs:
– if the requirements of the rule are no longer met;
– for failure to pay or partial payment of the tax by the date scheduled for payment;
– in case of transfer of the tax residence in an Italian municipality other than those listed above
– if the taxpayer decides to transfer his tax residence abroad.
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