How much tax is paid on residential rentals?

Italy has progressive tax rates. If you lease residential real estate on a regular basis you need to declare your total annual rental income every year. If this amount does not exceed € 15,000 per year, it is taxed at 23% plus 2% of the annual rent. If the annual rental income is greater than € 75,000, it is taxed at 43% plus 2% of the total annual rent. However, paying less tax is possible: for example, when registering a rental contract with the cedolare secca option, the tax rate is fixed at 21% of the annual rent. And on a comodato d'uso contract, no tax is paid because this type of agreement implies a temporary provision of housing for free.

What is the property purchase payment process?

According to Italian law, non-residents must open a local bank account and transfer the full property purchase amount to it. In addition, 10% of the deposit must be paid by bank cheque. When the notarial act is issued, the bank will issue a cheque with the remaining amount to the seller.

What documents are required to buy an apartment in Sicily?

Passport; Marriage certificate or premarital agreement; Tax identification code – codice fiscale (on request from an Italian consulate in the applicant's home country or the local tax authorities).

Which regions of Italy offer the cheapest property prices?

It’s possible to buy a one-bedroom apartment for about € 60,000 in the city of Pizzo (Calabria) and from € 105,000 in the region of Abruzzo.

How much does it cost to maintain a property in Sicily?

Residential property maintenance costs comprise three parts: tax, utilities, and insurance. Italy introduced a unique communal property tax called imposta unica comunale (IUC) on January 01, 2014. It is calculated on three taxes: Municipal property tax (imposta municipale unica, IMU). It is levied at 0.76% but not on the real estate used as primary residence; Waste tax (TARI) – about € 100; Municipal tax for road maintenance, street lighting, and so on. On average, the tax on an 85 m² apartment is about € 850 per year. As for utility payments, they depend on the property. Anywhere between € 200-5,000 per annum for an apartment, depending on its size, while a villa with a swimming pool will be somewhere between € 1,200-6,000 per annum. The insurance fee depends on a property’s value and usually ranges from € 300-2,000 per annum (usually 1–2% of the property value)

Can Italian citizenship be obtained through buying a property?

Property owners do not automatically become Italian citizens. It is necessary to live in the country for at least 10 years before becoming eligible for citizenship.

Which regions of Italy are the most promising for investing in real estate?

The most advantageous regions in terms of property investment are Lombardy, Piedmont and Liguria thanks to the well-developed infrastructure, which fuels price growth.

What is the process for the transaction closure?

To start, you need to open an Italian bank account and obtain a tax identification code. After that, a deposit is paid to reserve the property. The sum of the deposit is 1% of the purchase amount. Next, a sales agreement is signed. If the transaction closure is particularly time-consuming, a preliminary agreement with a deposit of as much as 10–30% can be signed. The final sales agreement is processed at a notary office. The agreement is also officially registered with Italy’s Real Estate Registration Department. The payment can be made in two ways: by a cheque or via a direct transfer of funds from the buyer’s bank account. After this is sorted, the new owner will receive the keys, sales agreement, and property register extract.

Do foreigners pay the same property taxes as Italians?

Yes, in Italy the taxes for residents and non-residents are the same. If buying a new-build you will have to pay: VAT — 4% of the property value; Fixed registration tax — € 200; Fixed mortgage tax — € 200; Fixed cadastral tax — € 200; For an existing property you will have to pay: Fixed registration tax — 9% of the property value (€ 1,000 at least); Fixed mortgage tax — € 50; Fixed registration tax — € 50. Owners pay a communal tax of up to 10.6%. Income tax for individuals is between 23–43%.

Are there any extra costs related to the purchase of an apartment in Sicily?

Yes, in addition to the expenses mentioned above there are a number of additional costs. For example, the payment of notary fees at 2–4% of the property's assessed value. This includes: Cadastral tax and a mortgage instalment – € 50 or € 200 depending on the buyer's residence permit availability; State duty – € 230; property tax – € 24.71; State register inscription fee – € 90; Notary fee – about 1–2.5% (for properties priced between € 300,000-1M the fee is € 5,000-7,000).

Can non-residents obtain a residential mortgage loan in Sicily?

Yes, but it is difficult to do so. Non-residents must have lived in Italy for at least two years and in some cases for five years. The income must be euro or dollar -denominated.

What is the process for property title registration in Sicily?

Property title registration involves several stages. Firstly, the parties sign the sales agreement at a notary office. The notary then forwards the information to state agencies: tax authority, cadastre chamber office, and registration chamber. The lead time for documents ranges from a few days to three months, depending on the region where the transaction is closed. Only when all of the registration processes are completed does the buyer receive their original documents.