The article examines a case where an Italian company offers a €5,000 discount to a German customer in exchange for advertising services, treating the discount as a VAT swap under Article 11 of DPR 633/1972. It discusses whether the discount should be applied as a reduction on the supply invoice or issued as a separate credit note, and explains the reverse charge mechanism in Italy.
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Commercialista Telematico · 15 days ago
The 2026 Italian Budget Law amended the VAT base for permutative operations, aligning with EU Directive 2006/112/CE. The new rule requires the taxable base to be the normal value of goods and services, defined as the price a transferee would pay in free competition to an independent third party. This change applies to all permutative operations under Italian VAT law.
VatCalc · 16 days ago
Italy's 2026 Budget Law introduces a 2% AgCom contribution on Italian‑sourced digital, media and platform revenues, effective March 2026. The levy applies to both Italian and non‑Italian entities, with per‑mille rates ranging from 0.05% to 0.2% across activity categories and a €100 de‑minimis threshold. Filing is required via AgCom's electronic portal, with penalties up to €130,000 for non‑compliance.
SAFT Validator · about 1 month ago
Italy became the first EU country to mandate electronic invoicing for all VAT‑registered businesses in 2019, expanding the requirement to micro‑businesses in 2024 and introducing FatturaPA v1.9 in 2025. The SDI clearance model has reduced the VAT gap and serves as a benchmark for the EU’s ViDA framework. The current EU derogation expires at the end of 2027, while the consolidated VAT code will take effect on 1 January 2027.
VatCalc · about 2 months ago
Italy has postponed its planned €2 customs handling fee for e‑commerce parcels from outside the EU until the EU-level fee takes effect on 1 July 2026. The fee would apply to parcels not exceeding €150 intrinsic value, covering both B2C and B2B shipments, and is expected to generate €123 million in 2026 and €245 million from 2027 onward. The EU will introduce an interim €3 levy from 1 July 2026 and a €2 levy from 1 November 2026, with plans to remove the €150 de‑minimis exemption in 2028.
VatCalc · about 2 months ago
Italy is reviewing the activation of its "mobile excise" mechanism to offset the VAT windfall caused by rising fuel prices, after oil prices surged above $100 per barrel on 9 March 2026. The government is considering cutting fixed excise duties to balance the increased VAT receipts generated by higher pump prices.
Bloomberg Law · 2 months ago
On 12 February 2026, Italy’s Revenue Agency aligned its VAT rules with EU law, allowing special purpose vehicles in merger‑leveraged buyouts to deduct input VAT on transaction costs. Resolution No. 7/2026 confirms these SPVs as VAT‑taxable entities, following Supreme Court rulings in August 2024 that recognised their preparatory role. The change restores VAT neutrality and opens a refund window for historical VAT leakage.
It is treated as a VAT swap under Article 11 of DPR 633/1972, with reverse charge applied in Italy.
The discount can be applied as a reduction on the supply invoice or issued as a separate credit note.
The supplier is in Italy and the customer is in Germany.
Article 11 of DPR 633/1972 applies to VAT swap operations.
This summary was published on VATfaqs.com on 7 May 2026. It relates to VAT developments in Italy. The original source is Commercialista Telematico.
