Do business in Italy. Without the mess.
Italy is the EU's 3rd largest economy with a manufacturing base, strong luxury and consumer sectors, and access to the full EU single market. Commenda handles your SRL formation, notary coordination, and IRES/IRAP compliance from day one.
Trusted by global businesses
Why Italy
Why Italy for your next entity
Italy's 60 million consumers, advanced manufacturing cluster, and EU membership make it a compelling expansion target for B2B and B2C businesses alike. The SRL structure provides limited liability with a minimum share capital as low as €1 for simplified structures, and the combined IRES rate of 24% is competitive within the eurozone. The Patent Box regime provides a 50% income deduction on qualifying IP, and the notary-based incorporation process, while adding a step, ensures legal certainty from formation. The complexity is real but manageable with the right local infrastructure in place.
Explore incorporation options- 24%IRES corporate income taxStandard Italian corporate tax rate applied to net taxable income
- +3.9%IRAP regional production taxRegional tax applied to net production value, separate from IRES
- €1Minimum share capital (SRLS)Simplified SRL allows formation with as little as €1 in share capital
- 2-4 wksTypical incorporation timelineFrom notary deed signing through Chamber of Commerce registration
Product Suite
One platform.
Every jurisdiction. No gaps.
Built for finance teams running international operations without a dedicated compliance function. This is the infrastructure you should have had from day one.
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Entity Management
Formation, maintenance, and oversight for subsidiaries across 70+ countries.
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Global Indirect Tax
VAT, GST, and sales tax obligations tracked, filed, and confirmed.
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Transfer Pricing
Intercompany policy, documentation, and filing - built to OECD standards.
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Tax & Accounting
Consolidated financial reporting and local corporate tax filings. One audit trail.
Entity types
Choose the right structure for your business
Recommended
SRL (Societa a Responsabilita Limitata)
Italy's private limited company is the standard structure for foreign businesses entering the market. The simplified variant (SRLS) allows formation with €1 of share capital, while the standard SRL requires €10,000. Both provide full limited liability and a clean corporate structure.
Benefits
- Simplified SRLS variant requires only €1 minimum share capital
- Standard SRL requires €10,000, giving more flexibility in capitalization
- No residency requirement for shareholders or directors
- Patent Box: 50% income deduction on qualifying IP income
- Single-member SRL permitted for wholly owned subsidiaries
Key considerations
- Notary (notaio) required for deed of incorporation
- All directors must obtain an Italian codice fiscale (tax code)
- Chamber of Commerce registration required post-notary
- IRAP is levied separately from IRES and varies slightly by region
- 22% VAT registration required for trading entities
How it works
From kickoff to open for business in Italy
Incorporating in a new country means unfamiliar filings, local requirements, and moving parts across multiple vendors.
We handle all of it so you don't have to.
Day 1
Onboarding
Your details submitted once. Entity name checked, documents collected, filings kicked off. No back-and-forth.
Days 1–3
Entity confirmed
Incorporation done. Formation documents, company number, and registered address live in your Commenda dashboard.
Week 1–2
Tax setup
Tax registrations filed, banking guidance underway. Compliance calendar set for your jurisdiction.
Week 2
Open for business
You're operational in a new market. Without a single trip to a government office.
G2 Reviews
Rated by the teams using it
Scores from finance and legal leads handling compliance globally.
Entity Management
#1 Ranked9.6/ 10Set up your entity and keep it in good standing. Filings, records, and renewals tracked in one place.
Corporate Tax & Compliance
Top Rated9.1/ 10Every tax deadline on one calendar. Corporate returns and statutory filings handled without the back-and-forth.
Sales Tax & VAT/GST
Commenda Leads9.4/ 10Register for VAT, GST, and sales tax in every country you operate in, and manage it all in one place.
Italy resources
Everything you need for your Italy operations
Detailed guides on tax, compliance, and business structure in Italy.
- Incorporation
How to Incorporate in Italy
End-to-end guide to forming an SRL in Italy: notary deed, Chamber of Commerce registration, codice fiscale, and VAT number.
Read guide - Compliance
Italy Corporate Compliance Guide
IRES, IRAP, and IVA filing obligations for Italian entities, including annual accounts and statutory audit thresholds.
Read guide - Tax
Italy Corporate Tax Overview
How IRES, IRAP, and the Patent Box regime interact, plus transfer pricing considerations for Italian subsidiaries.
Read guide - Expansion
Expanding into the EU via Italy
Why multinationals use Italian SRLs as EU operating entities and how to structure for cross-border efficiency.
Read guide
FAQ
Common questions
No. Italy does not require directors to be Italian residents or nationals. However, every director must obtain an Italian codice fiscale (tax identification code) before incorporation can be completed. Commenda coordinates codice fiscale applications for non-resident directors.
Both are private limited liability companies. The SRLS (Societa a Responsabilita Limitata Semplificata) is a simplified variant that requires only €1 in share capital and uses a standardized notary deed, reducing upfront costs. The standard SRL requires €10,000 minimum share capital and allows more flexibility in the articles of association. For most foreign subsidiaries, the standard SRL offers better structural flexibility.
IRES (Imposta sul Reddito delle Societa) is Italy's 24% corporate income tax applied to net profit. IRAP (Imposta Regionale sulle Attivita Produttive) is a separate 3.9% regional tax applied to net production value, which is a broader base than net profit and does not allow deduction of financial charges or labor costs in full. Both apply simultaneously, making Italy's effective corporate tax burden higher than the headline IRES rate suggests.
Typically 2 to 4 weeks from document collection through to Chamber of Commerce registration and VAT number issuance. The notary appointment is the primary scheduling variable. Commenda manages the notary coordination, codice fiscale applications, and post-registration filings.
Italy's Patent Box allows companies to deduct 50% of income derived from qualifying intellectual property from their taxable base. Qualifying assets include patents, know-how, trademarks, designs, and copyrighted software. The effective IRES rate on qualifying IP income is reduced to 12%. The regime requires a specific election and documentation of the IP contribution to income.
Italian SRLs must file annual financial statements with the Chamber of Commerce, submit quarterly VAT (IVA) returns, pay IRES and IRAP in advance installments, and file an annual corporate tax return. Companies above certain size thresholds require a Board of Statutory Auditors (Collegio Sindacale) and statutory audit. Payroll obligations (if employees are hired) include monthly INPS social security contributions.
Join hundreds of international businesses growing fast with Commenda
Tell us where you're expanding and we'll scope the requirements, handle the filing, and keep your entity compliant, usually within 24 hours of kickoff.
