New Doing Business In Italy Guide now available!

Please find below an executive summary  of the new guide:

Italy is currently the world's sixth largest economy in terms of GDP, and its strength owes much to the success of the country's small and medium sized companies which are often family-owned and managed, and concentrated in industrial clusters across the country.

Italy's business climate is generally very positive and open to foreign investment, with the government undertaking specific initiatives to improve the business climate by reducing the barriers to investment in Italy. Certain geographic areas (particularly the Mezzogiorno area in the south) are benefiting from Italian Government and EU investment incentive programmes, as are industries such as technology and activities that encourage exports.

New legislation in 2003 simplified the country's tax system and created a more favourable environment for investment, and foreign investors enjoy the same rights as domestic investors.

There are however a number of important factors to consider when doing business in Italy, and the new guide written by MSI's Rome and Milan accounting and law member firm Studio Ventura e Associati Internazionale, includes information on: the choice of business entity in Italy and the procedures, costs and corporate governance requirements; Italy's tax system, including corporate income tax, regional tax, withholding taxes, VAT, and the taxation of real estate; accounting and auditing requirements; labour issues such as labour relationships, salaries and the minimum wage, termination, social security, unions and syndicates, and insurance.

The full guide can be downloaded by using this link: Doing Business In Italy.
An appendix to the guide focused on the treatment of dividends, royalties and interest in Italy is also available.

Need professional advice?
Potential investors are advised to consult one of our professional services member firms at an early stage as they will be able to ensure that all relevant matters are identified.

To contact our Italian member firms, please click here.  If you require professional advice in a city not listed, please contact the MSI Secretariat directly.