Starting a business in Italy (ditta individuale, partnerships, S.r.l. and S.p.A.)

How to set up a business in Italy: which legal form to pick, the steps from the deed to the Registro delle Imprese, the capital that must be paid in, the VAT number (partita IVA), the ATECO activity code, the INPS and INAIL registrations, and the duties that start once the business exists. Figures are for tax year 2026. Italy's tax year is the calendar year. The Civil Code articles were read on Normattiva in their text in force on 22 September 2026. The annual government concession tax on company books comes from an Agenzia delle Entrate page that does not show a year; the amounts are fixed by statute and apply to 2026. The IRAP rate comes from the Agenzia's instructions to the IRAP return filed in 2026, which covers tax year 2025.

Italy Company Formation Guide v1.0

Tax detail lives in other Guides: income tax for individuals and partners in it-income-tax, IRAP in it-irap, VAT returns in italy-vat-return, e-invoicing in italy-einvoice, and INPS contributions in it-inps-contributions. Where no official page prints a number, this Guide says so and gives none.

Section 1: Quick Reference

Field	Value
Country	Italy (Italian Republic)
Currency	Euro
Company registrar	Registro delle Imprese, kept by the local Camera di Commercio
Key legislation	Civil Code (Codice civile): arts. 2291 and following (S.n.c.), 2313 and following (S.a.s.), 2325 and following (S.p.A.), 2462 to 2483 (S.r.l.), 2463-bis (S.r.l. semplificata); D.L. 1/2012 art. 3 (S.r.l. semplificata costs); D.P.R. 633/1972 art. 35 (VAT registration)
Typical formation time	Legacy estimate: 1 to 3 weeks. No official page states a duration. The notary must file a company deed within ten days (art. 2330)
Taxes on an S.r.l. or S.p.A.	IRES and IRAP. The table below gives each rate. No official page prints one combined rate, so this Guide does not state one
Tax authority	Agenzia delle Entrate (codice fiscale, partita IVA, tax returns)

Company taxes (for detail see it-irap and it-income-tax)

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, corporate income tax on the company's net income (TUIR art. 77)	24%	"con l'aliquota del 24 per cento"

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, regional tax, ordinary rate on the net value of production. Regions may vary it, and some sectors pay a surcharge in 2026 (see it-irap)	3.9%	"l'aliquota del 3,9 per cento"

IRAP is also due from S.n.c. and S.a.s., under art. 3(1)(b) of D.Lgs. 446/1997 (https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:1997-12-15;446~art3!vig=2026-06-30). Individuals, including a ditta individuale, have not paid IRAP since 2022 (L. 234/2021 art. 1 comma 8, quoted in note 70 on the same Normattiva page; see it-irap).

Section 2: Entity Types Comparison

The capital amounts are in the linked tables of Section 4.

Feature	Ditta Individuale (Sole Trader)	S.r.l. (Standard)	S.r.l.s. (Simplified)	S.n.c. / S.a.s. (Partnerships)	S.p.A. (Joint-stock Company)
Legal personality	No	Yes, from registration (art. 2331, applied to the S.r.l. by art. 2463)	Yes, as for the S.r.l.	No. The code gives legal personality on registration only to the companies (società di capitali)	Yes, from registration (art. 2331)
Liability	Unlimited	Limited	Limited	S.n.c.: unlimited for all partners. S.a.s.: unlimited for the accomandatari, limited for the accomandanti	Limited
Min. founders	1	1	1, natural persons only (art. 2463-bis)	2	1
Min. share capital	None	Standard minimum (diecimila euro); a reduced capital of at least one euro is allowed (art. 2463)	At least one euro and below the standard S.r.l. minimum	None	cinquantamila euro (art. 2327)
Paid in at the deed	None	At least a quarter of cash contributions, paid to the directors; the whole amount if there is a single founder or a reduced capital	Everything, in cash, to the directors	None	At least a quarter of cash contributions, into a bank; the whole amount if there is a single founder
Governance flexibility	Not applicable	High (customisable statuto)	Low: the standard-model clauses cannot be changed	Low	Medium
Tax treatment	IRPEF on the owner (it-income-tax); forfettario possible (Section 3, Step 6)	IRES and IRAP	IRES and IRAP	Income taxed on the partners (IRPEF); IRAP on the partnership	IRES and IRAP
Notary required	No	Yes (public deed)	Yes, but no notary fees are due (D.L. 1/2012 art. 3)	Yes in practice: the deed must be a public deed or carry signatures authenticated by a notary (art. 2296)	Yes
Admin burden	Low	High	Medium	Low to medium	Very high

Recommended default: standard S.r.l. for most commercial purposes. S.r.l.s. for small businesses owned by individuals who accept the fixed model statuto. A single individual starting small often begins as a ditta individuale.

Section 3: Registration Process

The steps below are for an S.r.l. A ditta individuale skips Steps 2 to 5: it registers with one Comunicazione Unica (Step 6).

Step 1: Choose Company Name (Denominazione Sociale)

• Company name requirements. The name must contain the words "società a responsabilità limitata" (art. 2463). An S.r.l.s. must contain "società a responsabilità limitata semplificata" (art. 2463-bis). Check with the Camera di Commercio that the name is free.

Step 2: Draft Atto Costitutivo and Statuto

• Atto costitutivo and statuto requirements. The atto costitutivo (deed of incorporation) must be a public deed and state, among other things, the capital subscribed and paid in (art. 2463). An S.r.l.s. must use the standard model set by decree of the Ministry of Justice, and its clauses cannot be changed (art. 2463-bis). A standard S.r.l. can customise its statuto.

Step 3: Notary Appointment

• Notary appointment requirements. Both S.r.l. and S.r.l.s. need a notary. For an S.r.l.s. the deed and registration are exempt from stamp duty and registry fees (diritti di segreteria), and no notary fees are due (D.L. 1/2012 art. 3(3)). The notary checks identity, capacity and that the capital has been paid.

Step 4: Deposit Share Capital

• Deposit share capital requirements. S.r.l.: at least a quarter of the cash contributions ("almeno il venticinque per cento") and any share premium are paid to the directors named in the deed, not into a bank. A single founder pays the whole amount (art. 2464). A policy or bank guarantee can replace the cash payment. Reduced-capital S.r.l. and S.r.l.s.: cash only, paid in full to the directors. S.p.A.: at least a quarter of cash contributions is paid into a bank, the whole amount for a single founder (art. 2342). The amounts are in Section 4.

Step 5: Register with Registro delle Imprese

• Registration with Registro delle Imprese. The notary files the deed with the Registro delle Imprese within ten days ("entro dieci giorni", art. 2330, applied to the S.r.l. by art. 2463). The company exists as a legal person from registration (art. 2331). For an S.n.c. or S.a.s. the directors file the deed within thirty days (art. 2296). A fixed registration tax (imposta di registro) is due on the deed. The consolidated tariff on Normattiva still prints the original lire amount, and no allowed page prints the current euro amount, so this Guide gives none. Camera di Commercio fees and stamp duty are set on sites outside the allowed list; ask the notary.

Step 6: Obtain PEC and Codice Fiscale / Partita IVA

• PEC and Codice Fiscale / Partita IVA. Anyone starting a business, trade or profession must declare it to the Agenzia delle Entrate within thirty days, and receives a partita IVA that does not change until the activity ends (D.P.R. 633/1972 art. 35). Companies use form AA7/10; individuals use form AA9/12. Anyone who must be entered in the Registro delle Imprese or the REA (companies, partnerships, a ditta individuale in trade or crafts) files through the Comunicazione Unica (ComUnica), which reaches the Registro delle Imprese, the Agenzia delle Entrate, INPS and INAIL in one filing. A professional who need not be in the Registro delle Imprese files form AA9/12 directly with the Agenzia.
• ATECO code. The filing states the activity by its ATECO code. The 2025 classification replaced the 2007 one and has been used in filings with the Agenzia since 1 April 2025 (Agenzia resolution 24/E of 8 April 2025). The code matters later: for a forfettario it sets the profitability coefficient, and some sectors pay an IRAP surcharge.
• Forfettario for a ditta individuale. An individual can choose the flat-rate regime in form AA9/12 or in ComUnica. Entry conditions and rates are in the table below; the full rules are in it-income-tax.
• PEC. Every company needs a certified e-mail address (PEC), recorded in the Registro delle Imprese. The statute was not read for this refresh (see "When to refuse or refer").

What	Value	Note
Source	all figures below	https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/regime-forfetario-le-regole-2020-/infogen-regime-forfetario-le-regole-2020-
Forfettario: previous-year revenue or fees, annualised, must not be above	EUR 85,000	"non superiori a 85.000 euro"
Forfettario substitute tax, in place of IRPEF and its surcharges	15%	"nella misura del 15%"
Forfettario start-up rate, first five years, if the conditions are met	5%	"L'imposta sostitutiva è ridotta al 5% per i primi cinque anni di attività"

Step 7: INPS and INAIL Registration

• INPS and INAIL Registration. ComUnica also carries the INPS and INAIL registrations. A trader or craftsman (ditta individuale, or a partner who works in the business) is enrolled with the INPS artigiani or commercianti fund; a professional without a professional fund pays into the gestione separata; company directors paid a fee also fall in the gestione separata. INAIL insures employees and, in some trades, working owners. Rates and minimums are in it-inps-contributions.

Step 8: Tassa di Concessione Governativa

• Tassa di Concessione Governativa. S.p.A., S.r.l. and S.a.p.a. pay a yearly government concession tax for the numbering and stamping of their books. It depends on the capital on 1 January of the year paid. The first year is paid by postal slip (c/c 6007) before the VAT start-of-activity declaration; later years by F24 with tax code 7085 by 16 March. Partnerships and individuals do not pay it.

What	Value	Note
Source	all figures below	https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/schede/pagamenti/f24verstassareg/f24-tassa-ccgg
Yearly tax if capital is not above EUR 516,456.90	EUR 309.87	"309,87 euro, se l’ammontare del capitale o del fondo di dotazione non supera"
Capital limit	EUR 516,456.90	"516.456,90 euro"
Yearly tax if capital is above the limit	EUR 516.46	"516,46 euro, se il capitale sociale o il fondo di dotazione supera tale importo"

Section 4: Capital Requirements

The standard S.r.l. minimum is printed in words in art. 2463 ("diecimila euro") and in digits in art. 2463-bis, which is why the table uses that article.

Entity Type	Value	Note
Source	all figures below	https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:regio.decreto:1942-03-16;262:2~art2463bis!vig=
S.r.l. standard minimum capital (art. 2463, secondo comma, numero 4, as referred to in art. 2463-bis)	EUR 10,000	"inferiore all'importo di 10.000 euro previsto all'articolo 2463"
S.r.l.s. minimum capital; it must also be below EUR 10,000, subscribed and paid in full at formation, in cash, to the directors	EUR 1	"pari almeno ad 1 euro"

Entity Type	Min. Share Capital	Min. Paid-Up	Payment Timing	In-Kind Contributions
S.r.l. (several founders)	diecimila euro (art. 2463)	A quarter of cash contributions plus the whole share premium, to the directors (art. 2464)	At the deed	Permitted, if the deed allows; those quotas are paid in full at subscription (art. 2464)
S.r.l. (single founder)	diecimila euro	The whole cash contribution (art. 2464)	At the deed	Permitted
S.r.l. with reduced capital	At least one euro, below diecimila euro (art. 2463)	All of it, in cash, to the directors	At the deed	Not permitted: cash only
S.r.l.s.	At least one euro, below diecimila euro (art. 2463-bis)	All of it, in cash, to the directors	At the deed	Not permitted: cash only
S.p.A.	cinquantamila euro (art. 2327)	A quarter of cash contributions into a bank; the whole amount for a single founder (art. 2342)	At the deed	Permitted; those shares are paid in full at subscription; services cannot be contributed (art. 2342)

A reduced-capital S.r.l. must set aside at least one fifth of each year's net profit as a legal reserve until reserve and capital together reach diecimila euro (art. 2463). If an S.r.l. or S.p.A. comes to have a single member, amounts still unpaid must be paid within ninety days (arts. 2464 and 2342).

Section 5: Costs Breakdown

No allowed page prints notary fees, Camera di Commercio registration fees, stamp duty on the filing, the registration tax in euro, or PEC prices. The legacy cost table gave amounts for all of these; they are removed. What official pages do settle:

• S.r.l.s.: no notary fees, and no stamp duty or registry fees on the deed and registration (D.L. 1/2012 art. 3(3): https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legge:2012-01-24;1~art3!vig=). The exemption does not name the registration tax (imposta di registro), which Step 5 says is due on the deed.
• S.r.l. and S.p.A.: the yearly concession tax in the table in Section 3, Step 8.
• Ask the notary for a written quote covering fees, registration tax, stamp duty and chamber fees.

Annual Maintenance

Item	Cost
Diritto annuale (Camera di Commercio)	Set by the chamber system; not on an allowed page
Tassa concessione governativa (S.r.l., S.p.A.)	See the table in Section 3, Step 8
Commercialista (accountant) fees	Market price; no official figure
Bilancio deposit (annual accounts filing)	Chamber fees; not on an allowed page

Section 6: Post-Formation Compliance

Obligation	Deadline	Authority
Bilancio (annual accounts)	Approved by the shareholders within 120 days of the year end, or up to 180 days where the statuto allows it for the reasons in art. 2364; filed within 30 days of approval (art. 2435)	Registro delle Imprese
IRES and IRAP return (Modello Redditi SC, IRAP)	By the last day of the tenth month after the end of the tax year (D.P.R. 322/1998 art. 2(2)). For a calendar year that is 31 October. The IRAP return follows the same deadline (art. 2(3))	Agenzia delle Entrate
IVA settlements and annual return	Monthly or quarterly (see italy-vat-return)	Agenzia delle Entrate
E-invoices	Every invoice through the SdI (see italy-einvoice)	Agenzia delle Entrate
Diritto annuale	Legacy: paid with the first income tax instalment. Not checked on an allowed page	Camera di Commercio
Titolare effettivo (beneficial owner register)	Legacy: within 30 days of any change. Not checked on an allowed page	Camera di Commercio
Libro soci updates	On any share transfer	Internal (notarised)
Concession tax on books	16 March each year (Section 3, Step 8)	Agenzia delle Entrate

Section 7: Bank Account Opening

Documents Typically Required

• Documents required for bank account. Visura camerale (Chamber of Commerce extract); atto costitutivo and statuto; ID and codice fiscale of all directors and shareholders; PEC address; description of the business.

Typical Timeline

• Bank account opening timeline. Legacy estimate: 1 to 3 weeks (Italian banks are thorough with KYC). An S.p.A. needs the bank before the deed, because its capital is paid into a bank. An S.r.l. pays its capital to the directors, so the account can follow registration.

Common Banks

• Common banks. Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit, BNL (BNP Paribas) (traditional); Banca Sella, Qonto, Finom (digital).

Section 8: Foreign Founder Considerations

Question	Answer
Non-resident directors allowed?	Yes. A codice fiscale is required
Physical presence required?	For the notary deed, yes, or a power of attorney that is itself notarised and apostilled
Apostille requirements	Foreign documents need an apostille and a sworn Italian translation
Foreign ownership restrictions	None for a standard S.r.l.; regulated sectors may need authorisations
Codice fiscale for foreigners	From an Italian consulate abroad or the Agenzia delle Entrate

These answers are legacy practice notes.

Section 9: Common Mistakes and Refusals

• R-IT-F1: Choosing S.r.l.s. for a growing business. The S.r.l.s. has a fixed model statuto whose clauses cannot be changed, and its capital must stay below the standard minimum (Section 4). It cannot hold investor-friendly provisions. Advise a standard S.r.l. for a business expecting growth or outside investment. A standard S.r.l. can also have a reduced capital of at least one euro. (R-IT-F1)
• R-IT-F2: Failing to set up PEC. A company needs an active PEC address in the Registro delle Imprese; without it the company misses official notices. (R-IT-F2)
• R-IT-F3: Ignoring tassa concessione governativa. The yearly concession tax on company books (Section 3, Step 8) is often missed. It is due regardless of turnover. (R-IT-F3)
• R-IT-F4: Single-shareholder S.r.l. with only a quarter paid up. With one founder, art. 2464 requires the whole cash contribution at formation. The quarter minimum applies only when there are several founders. (R-IT-F4)
• R-IT-F5: In-kind contributions in S.r.l.s. The S.r.l.s. (and the reduced-capital S.r.l.) take cash only. Use a standard S.r.l. with full capital if non-cash contributions are needed. (R-IT-F5)
• R-IT-F6: Paying S.r.l. capital into a bank and waiting for release. Since 2013 S.r.l. capital is paid to the directors named in the deed (art. 2464). The bank deposit rule now applies to the S.p.A. (art. 2342). (R-IT-F6)

Section 10: Timeline

Durations are legacy estimates, except the notary's ten-day filing limit (art. 2330: https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:regio.decreto:1942-03-16;262:2~art2330!vig=) and the thirty-day VAT declaration limit (art. 35).

Step	Duration	Cumulative
Name check and document preparation	2 to 5 days	Day 2 to 5
Capital paid (to the directors for an S.r.l.; to a bank for an S.p.A.)	At the deed	Day 3 to 10
Notary appointment and deed	1 to 5 days	Day 3 to 10
Notary files with Registro delle Imprese	Within ten days of the deed (law)	Day 5 to 20
Registration complete	3 to 7 days	Day 8 to 27
Partita IVA and codice fiscale (via ComUnica)	1 to 3 days; declaration due within thirty days of starting	Day 9 to 30
INPS and INAIL registration	With ComUnica	Day 9 to 30
Bank account fully operational	1 to 3 weeks	Day 16 to 50
Ready to trade		About 2 to 5 weeks

The method, step by step

1. Pick the legal form with the client's answers below, using the comparison in Section 2 and the capital rules of Civil Code arts. 2463, 2463-bis, 2464, 2327 and 2342 (https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:regio.decreto:1942-03-16;262:2~art2463bis!vig=).
2. For a company or partnership, have the notary draw up the deed. Pay the capital as art. 2464 (S.r.l.) or art. 2342 (S.p.A.) requires, and check the notary files it within ten days under art. 2330 (https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:regio.decreto:1942-03-16;262:2~art2330!vig=). For an S.n.c. or S.a.s., file within thirty days under art. 2296 (https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:regio.decreto:1942-03-16;262:2~art2296!vig=).
3. File the start-of-activity declaration within thirty days under D.P.R. 633/1972 art. 35 (https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1972-10-26;633~art35!vig=): through ComUnica if the business goes in the Registro delle Imprese, with form AA7/10 for entities (https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/web/guest/schede/istanze/aa7_10/schedainfo-aa7_10) or AA9/12 for individuals (https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/schede/istanze/aa9_11-apertura-variazione-chiusura-pf/scheda-informativa-aa9_11). State the 2025 ATECO code (https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/documents/20143/8410900/RISOLUZIONE+ATECO+2025/05fdbeda-c727-bf26-ecab-a2e6c1080753) and, for an individual, whether the forfettario is chosen.
4. For an S.r.l. or S.p.A., pay the first-year concession tax on the books before the VAT declaration, then by 16 March each year (https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/schede/pagamenti/f24verstassareg/comequando).
5. Confirm the INPS fund for each owner or director and hand over to it-inps-contributions, it-income-tax, it-irap, italy-vat-return and italy-einvoice.

Ask the client first

• Will you run the business alone, with partners, or with investors, and do you need limited liability?
• How much capital can you put in, and in cash or in assets?
• Are all founders natural persons? (An S.r.l.s. allows only natural persons.)
• What will the business do? (This sets the ATECO code, whether the Registro delle Imprese is needed, and the INPS fund.)
• For an individual: what were last year's revenue and employment income? (This decides the forfettario.)
• Are you resident in Italy, and do you already have a codice fiscale?

When to refuse or refer

• Regulated activities (banking, insurance, investment services, professions with their own registers and funds): refer to a specialist.
• Contributions in kind, valuations and reports on assets contributed: refer to the notary and a commercialista; this Guide does not cover the valuation rules.
• Any cost quote (notary, registration tax, stamp duty, chamber fees, diritto annuale): refer to the notary. No allowed page prints them.
• PEC duties for companies and directors, and the beneficial owner register: this Guide did not read those statutes; refer to a commercialista.
• A foreign parent setting up a branch or subsidiary, or a founder moving to Italy: refer for tax residence and permanent establishment advice.

Sources

• Civil Code arts. 2296, 2327, 2330, 2331, 2342, 2364, 2435, 2463, 2463-bis, 2464: https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:regio.decreto:1942-03-16;262:2~art2463!vig=
• D.L. 1/2012 art. 3: https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legge:2012-01-24;1~art3!vig=
• D.P.R. 633/1972 art. 35: https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1972-10-26;633~art35!vig=
• D.P.R. 322/1998 art. 2: https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1998-07-22;322~art2!vig=2026-06-30
• TUIR art. 77: https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.del.presidente.della.repubblica:1986-12-22;917~art77!vig=
• D.Lgs. 446/1997 art. 3: https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:1997-12-15;446~art3!vig=2026-06-30
• Agenzia delle Entrate, IRAP 2026 instructions: https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/documents/20143/9765340/IRAP_2026_istruzioni.pdf/6cd3bc0e-e7bd-f449-c86b-03cc142c1b74?t=1772192055414
• Agenzia delle Entrate, concession tax on company books: https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/schede/pagamenti/f24verstassareg/f24-tassa-ccgg
• Agenzia delle Entrate, forfettario rules: https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/regime-forfetario-le-regole-2020-/infogen-regime-forfetario-le-regole-2020-
• Agenzia delle Entrate, forms AA7/10 and AA9/12 and resolution 24/E of 2025 on ATECO: links in "The method, step by step"

Disclaimer

This Guide and its outputs are provided for informational and computational purposes only and do not constitute legal, tax, 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 before acting upon.

The most up-to-date version of this Guide is maintained at openaccountants.com.

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