Bookkeeping in Italy: books, registers, accounting basis, chart of accounts and Civil Code formats

Which books an Italian business or professional keeps, registers, retention, cash versus accrual, chart of accounts and Civil Code layouts. Figures are for tax year 2026; Italy's tax year is the calendar year. Statutes were read on Normattiva as in force on 30 June 2026 (the new TUIR, D.Lgs. 117/2026, applies only from 1 January 2027). One source is dated another year: the IRAP rate is from the Agenzia's 2026 IRAP instructions, for 2025. The depreciation decree (D.M. 31 December 1988) was not read, so no rates are printed.

Italy Bookkeeping Guide v1.0

Companion to it-income-tax, italy-vat-return and italy-einvoice.

Section 1: Quick Reference

Quick Reference table

Field	Value
Country	Italy (Repubblica Italiana)
Currency	EUR
Financial year	Calendar year for individuals; companies may choose another 12-month period
Accounting standards	OIC principles for non-listed entities; IFRS for listed entities
Standard chart of accounts	None mandated
Record retention	Ten years from the last entry (Civil Code art. 2220), and until the year's tax assessments are final (D.P.R. 600/1973 art. 22). Section 11

Section 2: Recommended Chart of Accounts (Piano dei Conti)

OpenAccountants' own suggestion, not an official chart; checked against Civil Code art. 2424 and 2425.

Assets (1xxx): Stato Patrimoniale, Attivo

Code	Account	CC Art. 2424 Reference
1000	Immobilizzazioni immateriali	B.I
1010	Software (opere dell'ingegno)	B.I.3
1015	Concessioni, licenze, marchi	B.I.4
1020	Avviamento	B.I.5
1030	Immateriali in corso	B.I.6
1110	Terreni e fabbricati	B.II.1
1120	Impianti e macchinari	B.II.2
1130	Attrezzature industriali e commerciali	B.II.3
1140	Macchine d'ufficio, computer, mobili, automezzi	B.II.4
1170	Materiali in corso	B.II.5
1199	Fondi ammortamento	Contra-asset
1210	Partecipazioni	B.III.1
1220	Crediti (long-term)	B.III.2
1310	Materie prime	C.I.1
1320	Prodotti finiti e merci	C.I.4
1400	Crediti verso clienti	C.II.1
1410	Crediti tributari	C.II.5-bis
1420	IVA a credito	C.II.5-bis
1430	Crediti verso altri	C.II.5-quater
1440	Ratei e risconti attivi	D
1500	Banca c/c and c/deposito	C.IV.1
1510	Cassa	C.IV.3

Liabilities (2xxx): Stato Patrimoniale, Passivo

Code	Account	CC Art. 2424 Reference
2000	Fondi per rischi e oneri	B
2010	TFR	C
2100	Debiti verso banche	D.4
2200	Debiti verso fornitori	D.7
2210	Debiti tributari	D.12
2220	IVA a debito	D.12
2230	Debiti vs istituti previdenziali	D.13
2240	Altri debiti	D.14
2300	Ratei e risconti passivi	E

Equity (3xxx): Patrimonio Netto

Code	Account	CC Art. 2424 Reference
3000	Capitale sociale	A.I
3010	Riserva legale	A.IV
3020	Altre riserve	A.VI
3100	Utili (perdite) portati a nuovo	A.VIII
3200	Utile (perdita) dell'esercizio	A.IX

Revenue (4xxx): Conto Economico, Valore della Produzione (A)

Code	Account	CC Art. 2425 Reference
4000	Ricavi delle vendite e delle prestazioni	A.1
4010	Variazioni rimanenze prodotti	A.2/3
4020	Incrementi immobilizzazioni per lavori interni	A.4
4100	Altri ricavi e proventi	A.5
4110	Contributi in conto esercizio	A.5 (shown separately)

Cost of Production (5xxx): Conto Economico, Costi della Produzione (B)

Code	Account	CC Art. 2425 Reference
5000	Acquisti materie prime e merci	B.6
5100	Servizi: consulenze, utenze, manutenzioni, assicurazioni, pubblicità, trasporti, telefono, spese bancarie (sub-accounts 5110 to 5180)	B.7
5200	Godimento beni di terzi	B.8
5300	Salari e stipendi	B.9.a
5310	Oneri sociali	B.9.b
5320	TFR dell'esercizio	B.9.c
5400	Ammortamento immateriali	B.10.a
5410	Ammortamento materiali	B.10.b
5420	Svalutazione crediti	B.10.d
5500	Variazione rimanenze materie prime	B.11
5600	Accantonamenti per rischi	B.12
5700	Altri accantonamenti	B.13
5800	Oneri diversi di gestione	B.14

Financial Income/Expenses (6xxx): Conto Economico: C & D

Code	Account	CC Art. 2425 Reference
6000	Proventi da partecipazioni	C.15
6100	Interessi attivi	C.16
6200	Interessi passivi	C.17
6300	Utili/perdite su cambi	C.17-bis
6400	Rivalutazioni	D.18
6500	Svalutazioni	D.19

Tax (7xxx)

IRES rate

What	Value	Note
Source	all figures below	https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1986-12-22;917~art77!vig=
IRES, standard rate	24%	"con l'aliquota del 24 per cento"

IRAP ordinary rate

What	Value	Note
Source	all figures below	https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/documents/20143/9765340/IRAP_2026_istruzioni.pdf/6cd3bc0e-e7bd-f449-c86b-03cc142c1b74?t=1772192055414
IRAP, ordinary rate (regions may vary it; some sectors pay more)	3.9%	"l’aliquota del 3,9 per cento"

Tax chart of accounts

Code	Account	Notes
7000	IRES dell'esercizio	Rate in the IRES table
7010	IRAP dell'esercizio	Rate in the IRAP table; see it-irap
7020	Imposte differite e anticipate	Art. 2425 item 20
7030	Acconti d'imposta	Credit against the tax liability

Section 3: Revenue Recognition

Revenue recognition scenarios

Scenario	Treatment
Default (ordinary accounts)	Accruals basis (competenza)
Regime forfettario	No accounting records for income tax (Section 11); income = revenue received times the sector coefficient (it-income-tax)
Regime ordinario	Accruals, double entry
Regime semplificato	Revenue received less expenses paid in the year, plus some accrual items (TUIR art. 66(1))
Professionals	Cash basis: fees received less costs paid (TUIR art. 54(1)); see it-income-tax
IVA on sales	Revenue net of IVA; IVA to 2220
Advance payments	Risconti passivi (2300) until delivery

Tax Regimes for Individuals/Small Businesses

Forfettario

What	Value	Note
Source	all figures below	https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/regime-forfetario-le-regole-2020-/infogen-regime-forfetario-le-regole-2020-
Prior-year revenue or fees, annualised, not above	EUR 85,000	"non superiori a 85.000 euro"
Substitute tax	15%	"nella misura del 15%"
Start-up rate, first five years, if conditions met	5%	"ridotta al 5% per i primi cinque anni"

Simplified accounts limits

What	Value	Note
Source	all figures below	https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1973-09-29;600~art18!vig=
Revenue in a full year, service businesses, not above	EUR 500,000	"non abbiano superato l'ammontare di 500.000 euro per le imprese aventi per oggetto prestazioni di servizi"
Revenue in a full year, other businesses, not above	EUR 800,000	"ovvero di 800.000 euro per le imprese aventi per oggetto altre attività"

• Semplificata is decided on last year's revenue received (for a business leaving ordinary accounts, on that year's accrued revenue). Sole traders and partnerships (D.P.R. 600/1973 art. 13 letters c and d) within the limit keep simplified books the next year. Mixed businesses use the limit of the main activity; without separate records they count as "other activities" (art. 18(1)). It rolls over while the limits are not exceeded (art. 18(7)); a new business may use it in year one if expected annualised revenue is within the limit (art. 18(9)).
• Companies always keep ordinary accounts: art. 18 covers only letters c and d.

Section 4: Expense Classification

Business income (reddito d'impresa). Professionals follow TUIR art. 54 to 54-octies (it-income-tax).

TUIR art. 102

What	Value	Note
Source	all figures below	https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1986-12-22;917~art102!vig=2026-06-30
Telephone equipment and services, deductible share	80%	"sono deducibili nella misura dell' 80 per cento"
Asset unit cost deductible in full in year one	EUR 516.46	"non è superiore a 516,46 euro"

TUIR art. 109(5)

What	Value	Note
Source	all figures below	https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1986-12-22;917~art109!vig=2026-06-30
Hotel services and food and drink, deductible share (not employees' business trips under art. 95(3))	75%	"sono deducibili nella misura del 75 per cento"

TUIR art. 108(2), entertainment cap as a share of revenue

What	Value	Note
Source	all figures below	https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1986-12-22;917~art108!vig=2026-06-30
Revenue up to 10 million euro	1.5%	"all'1,5 per cento dei ricavi e altri proventi fino a euro 10 milioni"
Part over 10 and up to 50 million euro	0.6%	"allo 0,6 per cento dei ricavi e altri proventi per la parte eccedente"
Part over 50 million euro	0.4%	"allo 0,4 per cento dei ricavi e altri proventi per la parte eccedente euro 50 milioni"

TUIR art. 164, cars

What	Value	Note
Source	all figures below	https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1986-12-22;917~art164!vig=2026-06-30
Cars not used exclusively as business assets	20%	"nella misura del 20 per cento relativamente alle autovetture"
Agents and commercial representatives	80%	"Tale percentuale è elevata all'80 per cento"
Cars given to employees for mixed use for most of the tax period	70%	"nella misura del 70 per cento per i veicoli dati in uso promiscuo ai dipendenti per la maggior parte del periodo d'imposta"

The share applies only to the part of the purchase cost, lease or hire charge within the limits in art. 164, which the statute still prints in lire. Professionals working alone may deduct costs for one vehicle only.

TUIR art. 96, interest

What	Value	Note
Source	all figures below	https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1986-12-22;917~art96!vig=2026-06-30
Net interest deductible up to this share of the risultato operativo lordo	30%	"il 30 per cento del risultato operativo lordo della gestione caratteristica"

Expense classification table

Expense Type	Code	Tax Deductibility
Rent, utilities, fees, insurance, advertising, bank charges	5200, 5100	Fully deductible; apportion mixed use
Travel and accommodation	5100	Hotels and meals at the art. 109 share, except employees' business trips, which follow art. 95(3). Costs incurred in Italy (meals, lodging, taxi) are deductible only if paid by bank or postal transfer or another traceable method (art. 109(5-bis))
Entertainment	5800	Within the art. 108 caps, and only if paid by bank or postal transfer or another traceable method (art. 108(2))
Telephone	5170	Art. 102 share
Motor vehicle costs and fuel	5100	Art. 164 shares; agents at the higher share.
Interest expense	6200	Art. 96 limit (companies)
Fines and penalties	5800	NOT deductible
Depreciation	5400/5410	Up to the ministerial coefficients, halved in year one (art. 102(2))

Section 5: Asset vs Expense Thresholds

Capitalisation Rules

Capitalisation rules table

Rule	Treatment
Small assets, businesses	Unit cost up to the art. 102(5) amount in Section 4: deductible in full in the year bought
Small assets, professionals	Separate limit, table below
Forfettario	No depreciation; the coefficient covers costs
Tax	First-year depreciation at half the coefficient (art. 102(2))

TUIR art. 54-quinquies

What	Value	Note
Source	all figures below	https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1986-12-22;917~art54quinquies!vig=2026-06-30
Professional: asset unit cost deductible in full	EUR 516.40	"il cui costo unitario non sia superiore a euro 516,40"

Depreciation Rates (DM 31 December 1988: Coefficienti di Ammortamento)

Rates come from the decree by sector and asset group, halved in year one (TUIR art. 102(2)). The decree was not read, so no rates are given; refer.

• Depreciation method : straight-line within the coefficient. Accelerated depreciation (former art. 102(3)) was repealed by L. 244/2007. Any super-ammortamento is a separate law; check it first.

Section 6: P&L Format (Conto Economico)

Art. 2425 Codice Civile, for years starting from 1 January 2016 (D.Lgs. 139/2015), costs by nature. Current wording, including the derivatives lines:

A) VALORE DELLA PRODUZIONE: items 1 to 5. Totale
B) COSTI DELLA PRODUZIONE: items 6 to 14 (9 personale a to e;
   10 ammortamenti e svalutazioni a to d). Totale
Differenza tra valore e costi della produzione (A - B)
C) PROVENTI E ONERI FINANZIARI: 15, 16, 17, 17-bis
D) RETTIFICHE DI VALORE DI ATTIVITA E PASSIVITA FINANZIARIE:
   18 rivalutazioni, 19 svalutazioni (each with d strumenti derivati)
Risultato prima delle imposte (A - B +/- C +/- D)
20 imposte sul reddito dell'esercizio, correnti, differite e anticipate
21 utile (perdite) dell'esercizio

Section 7: Balance Sheet Format (Stato Patrimoniale)

Art. 2424 Codice Civile, main headings:

ATTIVO: A crediti verso soci; B immobilizzazioni (I immateriali,
  II materiali, III finanziarie); C attivo circolante (I rimanenze,
  II crediti, III attivita finanziarie, IV disponibilita liquide);
  D ratei e risconti
PASSIVO: A patrimonio netto (I capitale, II sovrapprezzo, III rivalutazione,
  IV legale, V statutarie, VI altre riserve, VII copertura flussi,
  VIII utili portati a nuovo, IX utile dell'esercizio, X azioni proprie);
  B fondi rischi e oneri; C TFR; D debiti; E ratei e risconti

Section 8: Bank Reconciliation Patterns

Italian Bank Statement Formats

Bank statement formats table (OpenAccountants' observation, not an official source)

Bank	Format	Key Fields
Intesa Sanpaolo, Banco BPM, BPER Banca	CBI, CSV	Data operazione, Descrizione, Importo
UniCredit	CBI, CSV, MT940	Data contabile, Causale, Dare, Avere
Poste Italiane, Revolut, N26	PDF, CSV	Date, description, amount

Common Italian Transaction Descriptions

Transaction descriptions table

Pattern	Likely Classification
BONIFICO / BON	Transfer: income or expense
ADDEBITO SDD / RID	Direct debit: utility, insurance
POS / CARTA	Card: check merchant
F24 / DELEGA UNICA	Tax payment: exclude from P&L
INPS / CONTRIBUTI	Contributions (5310)
CANONE / AFFITTO	Rent (5200)
RATA MUTUO	Split capital (2100) and interest (6200)
GIROCONTO	Internal transfer: exclude

Fatturazione Elettronica (E-Invoicing)

Who must e-invoice through the SdI, and from when, forfettari included, is in italy-einvoice. Match bank lines to the SdI XML invoices.

Section 9: Micro-Entity / Small Business Simplifications

Codice Civile Size Thresholds (updated by D.Lgs. 125/2024)

The first year the raised limits apply is not settled: D.Lgs. 125/2024 art. 17 names no start year for small companies that are not listed. Test the company against both the raised and the earlier limits, as italy-financial-statements explains, and get advice if the results differ.

Art. 2435-ter (micro)

What	Value	Note
Source	all figures below	https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:regio.decreto:1942-03-16;262:2~art2435ter!vig=
Total assets	EUR 220,000	"220.000 euro"
Revenue	EUR 440,000	"440.000 euro"
Average employees	5	"5 unità"

Art. 2435-bis (abbreviated)

What	Value	Note
Source	all figures below	https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:regio.decreto:1942-03-16;262:2~art2435bis!vig=
Total assets	EUR 5,500,000	"5.500.000 euro"
Revenue	EUR 11,000,000	"11.000.000 euro"
Average employees	50	"50 unità"

Size thresholds table

Criterion	Microimpresa	Bilancio abbreviato	Bilancio ordinario
Total assets	Up to EUR 220,000	Up to EUR 5,500,000	Above EUR 5,500,000
Revenue	Up to EUR 440,000	Up to EUR 11,000,000	Above EUR 11,000,000
Average employees	Up to 5	Up to 50	Above 50

• Two-of-three criteria rule : in the first year, or afterwards for two consecutive years, not exceeding two of the three limits ("per due esercizi consecutivi, non abbiano superato due dei seguenti limiti", art. 2435-bis).

Simplifications by Size

Simplifications by size table

Requirement	Microimpresa	Bilancio abbreviato	Bilancio ordinario
Stato patrimoniale, conto economico	Abbreviated	Abbreviated	Full
Nota integrativa	Exempt if key information is at the foot of the balance sheet	Simplified	Full
Relazione sulla gestione	Exempt on the same condition	Exempt if the information is in the nota integrativa	Required
Rendiconto finanziario	Exempt	Exempt	Required

Individual Tax Regimes

Individual tax regimes table

Regime	Who Qualifies	Bookkeeping Obligation
Forfettario	Section 3 table	None for income tax; keep purchase invoices (Section 11)
Semplificato	Section 3 table	Receipts and payments registers (Section 11)
Ordinario	Companies, above the limits, or by option	Full books (Section 11)
Professional	Arts and professions	Register of fees and expenses (Section 11)

Section 10: Interaction with Tax Guides

Interaction with tax Guides table

Tax Guide	How Bookkeeping Connects
it-income-tax	Professionals and forfettari
IRES (companies)	Risultato dell'esercizio is the start; Section 4 caps create permanent differences
italy-vat-return	1420 and 2220 feed the liquidazione and the LIPE
it-irap	Base starts from the Differenza A-B
it-inps-contributions	Account 5310; self-employed contributions

Section 11: Books, registers and retention

• Ordinary accounts. Libro giornale, day by day (Civil Code art. 2216); libro degli inventari (art. 2214); IVA registers; auxiliary records by category; stock records where required; registro dei beni ammortizzabili; company books of art. 2421 (D.P.R. 600/1973 art. 14).
• Inventory. At the start and every year, closed by the balance sheet and profit and loss account, signed within three months of the income tax return deadline (Civil Code art. 2217; D.P.R. 600/1973 art. 15).
• Registro dei beni ammortizzabili. By the return deadline: year bought, cost, revaluations, accumulated depreciation, coefficient, the year's charge, disposals (art. 16). Under simplified accounts depreciation is deductible only if it is kept (TUIR art. 66(2)).
• Simplified accounts. A register of revenue received and a separate register of expenses paid, in date order, with amount, counterparty and invoice reference (art. 18(2)). IVA registers can replace them if non-IVA items are noted separately; unpaid invoices are listed at year end and entered when settled (art. 18(4)). A three-year option lets IVA registers stand alone, with registration presumed to be payment (art. 18(5)). The ordinary-accounts option binds for that year and the next two (art. 18(8)).
• Professionals. One chronological register of sums received (gross, net, withholding suffered, payer, invoice) and deductible expenses; depreciable assets entered by the return deadline (art. 19).
• Forfettari. "esonerati dagli obblighi di registrazione e tenuta delle scritture contabili", but still keep registers required by non-tax laws, and number and keep purchase invoices and customs bills (Agenzia "Semplificazioni e adempimenti" page).
• IVA registers. Sales invoices in number order by the 15th of the month after the operation (D.P.R. 633/1972 art. 23); purchases before the settlement that deducts them and by the annual return deadline (art. 25); numbered pages under Civil Code art. 2219 (art. 39).
• Form, timing, retention. Tax books numbered page by page; chronological and stock entries within sixty days (D.P.R. 600/1973 art. 22). Keep ten years from the last entry, with invoices and letters, image copies allowed if always legible (Civil Code art. 2220); for tax, until the year's assessments are final, even beyond (D.P.R. 600/1973 art. 22); e-invoices stored electronically (D.P.R. 633/1972 art. 39). Same rule as italy-einvoice.

The method, step by step

1. Pick the regime: company, ordinary; sole trader or partnership, simplified if last year's revenue is within the limits, unless it opts out (D.P.R. 600/1973 art. 18, https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1973-09-29;600~art18!vig=); forfettario if its conditions are met (https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/regime-forfetario-le-regole-2020-/semplificazioni-e-adempimenti).
2. Open the books for that regime (Section 11; D.P.R. 600/1973 art. 14, https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1973-09-29;600~art14!vig=2026-06-30).
3. Record IVA documents on time (D.P.R. 633/1972 art. 23, https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1972-10-26;633~art23!vig=2026-06-30).
4. Year end: apply the Section 4 caps, update the asset register (D.P.R. 600/1973 art. 16, https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1973-09-29;600~art16!vig=2026-06-30), sign the inventory (Civil Code art. 2217, https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:regio.decreto:1942-03-16;262:2~art2217!vig=2026-06-30).
5. Prepare the financial statements in the art. 2424 and 2425 schemes, then keep everything for the art. 2220 period (https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:regio.decreto:1942-03-16;262:2~art2220!vig=2026-06-30).

Ask the client first

• Company, partnership, sole trader or professional?
• Revenue actually received last year, and is the main activity services or other?
• Forfettario, or an option for ordinary accounts (and when)?
• IVA registers with cash notes, or the registration-date option?
• Stock and depreciable assets held, with dates and costs?
• Companies: total assets, revenue and average staff for the last two years.

When to refuse or refer

• Listed companies, groups, banks, insurers, IFRS: outside this Guide.
• Audit limits and the first year of the raised size limits: not verified; refer.
• Sector depreciation rates: decree not read; refer.
• Tax audits, missing or destroyed books: refer to a commercialista.
• Agriculture, non-profit bodies, special IVA schemes: outside this Guide.

Sources

• Civil Code (art. 2214 to 2220, 2424, 2425, 2435-bis, 2435-ter): https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:regio.decreto:1942-03-16;262:2~art2220!vig=2026-06-30
• D.P.R. 600/1973 (art. 14 to 22): https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1973-09-29;600~art22!vig=2026-06-30
• D.P.R. 633/1972 (art. 23, 25, 39): https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1972-10-26;633~art39!vig=2026-06-30
• TUIR (art. 54-quinquies, 66, 77, 96, 102, 108, 109, 164): https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1986-12-22;917~art66!vig=2026-06-30
• Agenzia, forfettario: https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/regime-forfetario-le-regole-2020-/infogen-regime-forfetario-le-regole-2020-

Disclaimer

This Guide and its outputs are provided for informational and computational purposes only and do not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. Open Accountants and its contributors accept no liability for any errors, omissions, or outcomes arising from the use of this Guide. All outputs must be reviewed and signed off by a qualified professional (such as a commercialista or revisore legale) before filing or acting upon.

Contributed by OpenAccountants.