Tax Codes, Imports and Vehicles

Codice fiscale, Tax Code 

During your stay in Italy you will need a ‘codice fiscale’ or tax code.

This is obligatory for Italian and foreign citizens, irrespective of whether you pay Italian taxes or not.

You need a codice fiscale to: 

 

 

How to get a tax code:

Go to the tax office (Ufficio Imposte) in Via Santa Caterina d'Alessandria (office hours: 8.40-12.40, Monday to Friday; also Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 14.20 - 15.40). Take a copy of your passport or national ID card.

Contact: UL.FIRENZE1@AGENZIAENTRATE.IT   

 

Imports and Customs 

EU nationals can import personal belonings, electrical goods, PCs, duty free into Italy.

Goods bought duty-free outside the EU, and for which duty and/or VAT has not been paid in a EU state, are subject to import duty.

Non-EU nationals wishing to import a small quantity of personal effects into Italy, including books, are recommended to bring them as ‘accompanied luggage’.

You need your passport (and visa if required) and a list of the items you are importing.

 

To import larger amounts of goods duty-free you must:

• Forward a detailed list (with translation in Italian) of the belongings you want to import, specifying the content of each box, to the Welcome Unit
• Indicate the date of arrival and the place of customs clearance (we advise Florence)
• Return the completed and signed Import Request Form in Italian, with a list of belongings, to the Welcome Unit at Fax +39 055 4685 258; click for the English version of the form (reference only)

The Welcome Unit will forward the official request in Italian, together with the list of belongings to import duty-free, to the Italian authorities in order to settle the formalities.

 

Submit your request to the Welcome Unit:

• at least 40 days before the arrival of the boxes and at least 60 days during summer holidays (e.g. by end June for arrivals due in early September)
• within 6 months following your arrival in Italy (e.g. by February if you arrive in September)

Note that:

• You cannot import food
• You must indicate the value of used electronic appliances (PCs, TVs, DVDs, etc.)
• There is a special procedure for artworks of a certain value 

We advise you to check carefully that your shipping agent is familiar with shipments to Italy, and that your papers are in order at the Italian end.

Contact: WelcomeUnit@eui.eu   

 

Buying and/or Importing Vehicles 

Importing a vehicle, new or old

EU nationals may import a vehicle without paying duty if it is over 6 months old and has done over 6,000 km.

Non-EU nationals can import a vehicle duty-free on providing proof of ownership for over 1 year.

For details fellows and staff should contact the Welcome Unit no later than mid-June for September arrivals.

 

Buying a new vehicle in Italy

If you buy a new car or motorcycle (over 50cc) while in Italy but keep your residence abroad.

You will be issued with special non-renewable plates for non-residents (EE, escursionisti esteri) for 4 months.

The 20% IVA (VAT) tax you save initially is only for 4 months.

After this time you must import the vehicle into Italy or into your country of origin/residence.  

The duty is calculated on the value of the car at the time of importation.

 

Buying a used vehicle in Italy

If you want to buy a vehicle which is already registered in Italy, e.g. a second-hand car, you must take up official residence in Florence and submit a residence certificate (certificato di residenza) to the motor authorities.

Note that this certificate is not the residence permit ('permesso di soggiorno') but a certificate issued by the local town hall in the municipality where you live.

The town hall ('comune') office for this registration is called the 'anagrafe'. It may take up to 1 or 2 months before your residency is formally registered, depending on where you are living.

You will also need a tax code from the tax office in via Santa Caterina d'Alessandria.

Re-registering a vehicle in Italy, including scooters and motorbikes over 50cc (i.e. transfer of log book, notary and agency costs) costs around €500.

For motorbikes under 50cc (motorini) apply to the Ministry of Transport office (Ufficio della Motorizzazione) for number plates. Cost about €100.

As the office is in via Lucchese 160/a on the outskirts of Florence, the EUI advises you to go to the central office of the ACI Automobile Club di Firenze in Viale Amendola 36. Tel. 055 2486207

 

You will need:

• a residence certificate from the local town hall
• a valid ID document
• codice fiscale/tax code