What is it?

The Codice Fiscale is your personal Italian Tax Code ID number for all dealings ( not only of a fiscal nature).   The Codice Fiscale number is asked for much more often than a USA Social Security number.

Why?

Examples of why you need a Codice Fiscale:

• open a bank account
• get a SIM/Mobile phone contract
• sometimes when shopping (especially for online shopping)
• enroll in the Italian/EU health care system/coverage
• and simply…. a bunch of other reasons.  You need one.

Where?

Outside of Italy: You can apply in your home country at any Italian diplomatic or consular representative/office.

In Italy: The application form may be submitted to any Revenue Agency office, in person or by another person you delegate.

•  icon-bookmark-o Find the office closest to you: Revenue Agency offices website

Since many people start out in Rome, this is the Rome location/contact info:
• VIA IPPOLITO NIEVO 36,  00153  (Trastevere area)
• Phone: 06/583 191   Fax: 06/50763637
• E-mail: dp.iroma @ agenziaentrate.it

How?

• Apply in person with your completed application.
  • If you apply in person, in Italy – you will receive your Codice Fiscale number on the spot.
• A credit card size, plastic card will be mailed to you at a later date (could take weeks!)
• Make photocopies of the paper/your codice number that you received at the agency and use that until you receive your card.
  • Make a note of your Codice Number in your smartphone or somewhere handy…. you really do get asked for this number quite often.  You mostly need to write or type the number versus showing the actual ID card.

When?

It’s best you get it ASAP (as soon as possible) since you’ll need it for many transactions as you’re setting up in Italy.  However, there isn’t a ‘deadline’ set by Italian Government (as far as we know).  It’s simple to get, free and will make your daily life easier by being able to get internet service, phone, online shopping, health insurance, etc.

Cost?  FREE

LINKS:

•   Codice Fiscale/TaxCode Instructions & Application Form ( in English)
  • Use the above form for change of information, lost/duplicate card requests
•   Revenue Agency Office locator website
•   Italian Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate)
•   English Glossary of Italian Tax Terms

 icon-info-circle For those of you interested in more of the nitty gritty of Codice Fiscale :

What is it exactly?
Codice Fiscal is the tax code in Italy.

If you’re American, think of it similar to your Social Security number – but you’ll use it a lot more & it doesn’t seem to be as private as the USA.

The tax code in Italy is a combination of letters and numbers that create the code of 16 characters. The card serves to uniquely identify individuals residing in Italy.

Example of the composition of the tax code

• the first 3 characters are the first three consonants of the surname ( when the consonants are less than 3 , it integrates with the first voice , until you have 3 characters , if your last name has 2 characters , the third is the letter X )
• the same holds for the name, which provides the second 3 letters of the tax code ( when in the name there are more than 3 consonants , you take the first, third and fourth )
• the first 2 numbers ( seventh and eighth characters of the tax code ) are the last 2 digits of the year of birth
• the ninth character is a letter that represents the month of birth
• the next 2 numbers are the day of birth , and for the female subjects increased by 40 units
• characters from 12 to 15 indicate the place of birth ( code of the commune or of the foreign country )
• the last character , alphabetic, has control function.