Enzo Ricci,  Friday, 1 September 2017

 

If you want to get something done by the government in Italy, you can't do without a Code Fiscale, a 'tax code'. The Code Fiscale is issued by the Agenzia delle Entrate (the Italian tax office). Italian real estate agents sometimes suggest that applying for a Code Fiscale is a complicated procedure, but if you enter the tax office with your passport and a copy of your passport, you usually have your code within half an hour.

Once issued, the code is valid for life. The code consists of a unique combination of 16 letters and numbers: three letters of your surname, three letters of your first name, year of birth, a letter, the day of birth, a letter, a 3-digit number where you were born and finally another letter. Gary Lineker, born on 30 November 1960, for example, can receive the following code: LNK GRY 60 M 30 X 132 Z.

As a foreigner, you need the Code Fiscale when opening a bank account. The bank wants to see the original document with your Code Fiscale when applying for the bank account number. When buying a property in Italy, the Code Fiscale is included in all documents of the purchase process.

The tax office is open on working days from 9 to 12.30. And sometimes even in the afternoon. To apply for the Code Fiscale, you must ask for this form: modello per attribuzione della codice fiscale. Completing this form is not too difficult: surname, first name, place of birth (put' EE' for the province if you were born outside Italy), date of birth and gender.

Your place of residence must be an address in Italy, e. g. the address of your estate agent.

The home address is your home address in the UK - first enter the country, then the city and then the street. That is all. Then place a signature at the bottom of the document at Firma del Richiedente (Signature of the applicant).

You must submit your application using the original form. A photocopy or fax will not be accepted.

Make a large number of copies of the original document immediately and save the original. If you lose the form, you will have to go back to the tax office. You can then apply for an extract from your Code Fiscale. Put a cross on the application form at' duplicato'.