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Fiscal Code Card

How to get an Italian Tax Code (Codice Fiscale)

You can obtain a fiscal code through three main methods but navigating the Italian bureaucracy can be discouraging, especially if you don’t understand the language well enough or don’t know which process is best.

 

  1. The first thought is to contact your nearest Italian Embassy. However, most of their sites clearly state to be the last resort.
  2. Next would be the Revenue Agency in Italy (Agenzie dell’Entrate) is where all requests are processed from Italian Embassy’s or directly from applicants but they suffer from bad reviews for online services.
  3. The easiest and fastest option is to hire an American Liaison in Italy. Send them copies of your documents for them to personally request for you.

Before choosing any option, you need to gather certain documents and understand how to prepare them. The procedure may be a bit meticulous but from personal experience, hearing stories of others and reading complaints all over the internet about the reasons for lengthy processing times, it’s crucial to pay attention to detail.

What is a Codice Fiscale?

It’s similar to the Social Security Number in America, which is required for various activities such as, planning to live, work, study or invest in Italy. Obtaining an Italian codice fiscale (aka; fiscal code/tax code) is the first and foremost important document you should possess to experience the sweet life in Italy. 

Which Documents are Required to Obtain a Codice Fiscale?

  1. Valid Passport 
  2. Driver’s License or a Photo ID 
  3. 1-2 Supportive document(s)
  4. Application Form 
  5. Disclosure/Delegate Form

Supportive Documents

One of the following documents listed below should also be included to confirm name/address. The list is in the order by most common requested by the Agenzia delle Entrate.

  1. Car insurance policy 
  2. Utility bill 
  3. Lease agreement 
  4. Bank statement.
    1. Birth certificate

How to Validate Your Documents

Passport photo and the identifying information (name/signature/D.O.B./sex) must match your drivers license and one supportive document must match your name and address on your drivers license/ID (car insurance policy/utility bill/lease/bank statement). 

Replace passport if…

  • name is different than birth certificate, marriage certificate or other legal document

If you recently changed your name, visit travel.state.gov to see if you’re eligible to apply for a new passport at no additional cost. 

Replace driver’s license/ID if…

  • name is different from passport
  • middle name is used differently on passport – John A Doe vs John Doe
  • recently moved to a new address

Examine the photos to determine similarity. It’s often overlooked but facial hair, glasses, hair style or any combination of these, may dramatically change your appearance. 

Studying Abroad

For students, graduates or alumni’s that would like to study abroad in Italy, the fastest and easiest approach is to seek assistance at your current or previous school. 

If your school cannot provide any guidance or would like to DIY, you will also need to include an official acceptance letter from the school in Italy.  This process may take a bit longer due to Agenzia delle Entrate in Italy confirming the letters’ legitimacy by contacting the school.

How to Make Copies of Your Documents

Let’s be proactive, since an extra 10-20 minutes may save you months of unnecessary stress. Since you only send one copy for initial request, it’s better to have several different variations saved, just in case there are any issues with the copy you submitted. 

SCANS SAVED AS A PDF ONLY, PICTURES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

How to scan your passport

  1. Center the entire passport in the opened position turned to the page with your photo
  2. Save as PDF format

Tip:

Create separate files with copies of passport, drivers license/ID, and supportive documents. So, if any copy is rejected on the first attempt, you can immediately attach the requested copy. 

You may need to change settings of scan/copy for clearest results. In addition, it would be best to save several variations of the best copy. 

Settings options : size, shade and/or contrast. 

  • Original color with one shade darker, two shades darker, one shade lighter from original or two shades lighter from original. 
  • Original color with increased contrast by one, increased contrast by two, decreased contrast by one from original or decreased contrast by two from original. 
  • From original, one shade darker and increase contrast by one, one shade darker or increase contrast by two. Repeat but with two shades darker or repeat with 1-2 shades lighter. 
  • Repeat all above and change 1-2 sizes larger only. 

Yeah, I know, it may seem excessive but if they deny any of your copies, one of the aforementioned variations would be accepted. 

How to scan your Driver’s License/ID

  1. Center and scan only the front 
  2. Follow copy settings to change mentioned above for passport

Suggested documents may be scanned normally but also saved in PDF format.  

How to Complete the Application 

Not all locations may accept a digital signature. Therefore, it’s best that the application be completed online before printing to physically sign. This method allows clear indication that it was signed by a human and considered “original”, which means, less Bureaucractic Slowness. 

  1. Fill out the editable form online
  2. Print it
  3. Physically sign it with a blue pen (signature must match passport)
  4. Scan a color copy and save in a PDF format. (Again, examine the copy if settings need to be adjusted)

Application Form (AA4/8)

Disclosure Form

Some offices in Italy require that you must specify the reason for your codice fiscale request. As mentioned before, not all Italian government websites give you a clear idea about what is needed and how to do it. For that reason, it’s best to include it. 

I discovered several reasons you can provide to reduce possibilities for the Agenzia delle Entrate to deny your request. Therefore, if you’re looking to relocate or invest in Italy, the following reasons below are the best I’ve heard and researched.

Reasons to Consider

  • Pay taxes on income
  • Open a bank account
  • Claim inheritance
  • Participate in real estate auctions

For Students 

  • temporary residency (duration, dates, location and school name) 
  • Studying and living in Naples for 10 months from 1 September 2024 to June 2025 at the University of Federico II.

Where to Submit Your Codice Fiscale Request

There are various options where you can submit your request but I’d say it depends on your timeline and/or level of patience. We’ll start with the least popular considering time and integrity.

Italian Embassy/Consulate – FREE

Go to your nearest Italian Embassy website, translate to English on top right, locate the search bar (near top right) and type “fiscal code” and click search. 

If it doesn’t automatically take you to a page, click inside the search bar again and a dropdown menu should appear. Click on first option, which should be: Tax Code (“Codice Fiscale”) Page. 

In some sites, if not all, you’ll notice a “Note” indicating their inability to quickly process tax code requests. Well, you got to appreciate their honesty. 

If there’s no mention about their inability to quickly process requests, simply scroll down to locate the email address to submit all documents.

  • miami.codicefiscale@esteri.it
  • consnewyork.codicefiscale@esteri.it
  • losangeles.codicefiscale@esteri.it, etc..

Some sites may have a link to “Fast It Portal” but it’s useless, since you need to be an Italian citizen and codice fiscale to enter that portal.

Revenue Agency in Italy (Agenzia delle Entrate) – FREE

This is a faster option, since Italian Embassy websites actually recommend sending your request directly to the Italian Revenue Agency in Italy. 

You can visit their website www.agenziaentrate.it to find the nearest office to where you would be located or you can search for “agenzia dell’entrate vicino [insert town], Italy” and click the first result given. If the result link doesn’t provide an email address, go back and try the second, etc., until you find an email address to use.

Hire an American Liaison in Italy – $97

The best and easiest option would be someone in Italy to personally submit the request directly to the Agenzia dell’Entrate office on your behalf. While many Americans can successfully accomplish the first two options on their own, some rather not deal with language barriers or unforeseen processing issues. 

The best part is, if something goes wrong for any reason, the Liaison should operate with complete transparency, superb communication, integrity and a money back guarantee to assure approval.

 A liaison in Italy may also benefit Americans researching….

  • citizenship from parents/grandparents
  • inheritance
  • citizenship for children
  • real estate purchases/investments

FAQs

Yes. You can get your Italian Tax Code/Fiscal Code while you're on vacation. You'll need someone that has a Codice Fiscale to access the government portal www.AgenziadellEntrate.com to either make an appointment or receive a Ticket # for same day visit. Bring all copies of necessary documents with you. Many have walked out of the appointment with their digital codice fiscale in hand. 

I wouldn’t truly worry about receiving the card, since the official digital copy will be excepted by anyone but most just want the number for identification purposes. If you're studying or residing in Italy for more than 90 days, it's required to request for a Health Card (Tessera Sanitaria), which will have your Italian Tax Code/Codice Fiscale written on it for you to access doctors, pharmacies and hospitals.

No. Only Italian residents/citizens have access to healthcare. 

Anyone residing in legally Italy for more than 90 days, should go to the town hall of residency and request a Health Card, which in Italian it's called a “Tessera Sanitaria”. You'll need all documents regarding your stay, such as, passport, tax code, visa, university acceptance letter, etc..