17 January 2020 Italy's Digital Services Tax enters into force as of 1 January 2020 The Italian Budget Law 2020,1 provides for the entry into force – as of 1 January 2020 – of a "new" Digital Services Tax (DST) replacing the "Web Tax" introduced by the Italian Budget Law 2019 (Law no.145/2018). No implementing Decree is required for the entry into force of the tax. The DST shall be due by subjects carrying out business activities that, individually or at group level, jointly meet, in the previous fiscal year, the following thresholds:
However, revenues that, although derived from the mentioned digital services, are considered "intercompany" (i.e., are rendered to subjects considered to be controlled, controlling or controlled by the same controlling entity) are excluded from the taxable base. Moreover, according to the new legislation, the following services are not considered as digital services for the purposes of the DST:
Taxable revenues are assumed at gross of costs and net of value-added tax and other indirect taxes. The fees related to the provision of a digital multilateral interface that facilitates the sale of specific products subject to excise duties, having a direct and inseparable connection with the volume or value of such sales, are not considered. Revenue is considered as taxable when invoiced and the tax is due if the user of a taxable service is located in Italy. The tax rate is equal to 3% and applies on the revenues from digital service generated on a calendar year basis, starting from 2020. Taxable persons are required to pay the DST by 16 February of the calendar year subsequent to the one of reference and to file by 31 March of the same year, an annual return stating the amount of taxable revenues generated in the previous FY (i.e. for the year 2020, the payment is due by 16 February 2021 and the tax return is to be filed by 31 March 2021). For groups of companies, a single group company is named for the fulfillment of the obligations derived from the DST for the whole group. Nonresident subjects without a permanent establishment in Italy, subjects established in a State other than a European Union Member State or of the European Economic Area with which Italy has not concluded a mutual assistance agreement for the recovery of tax claims, shall appoint a Tax Representative for the fulfillment of the obligations and payment of the DST.
Document ID: 2020-0129 |
