COREDO > Company Formation in Italy

Company Formation in Italy

Why Register a Company in Italy

Italy is one of the largest economies in the EU, offering access to the single European market and a strategic location in the Mediterranean region. The country provides foreign investors with a stable legal system, 100% company ownership, and access to the markets of Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

The COREDO team has been operating since 2016 and provides comprehensive support for company formation in Italy and other EU jurisdictions — from document preparation to tax registration.

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Cost of the service
from EUR 6,000

Types of Companies in Italy

Italian legislation provides several legal forms for conducting business. The choice depends on the scale of operations, the number of participants, and the company’s objectives.

SRL (Società a Responsabilità Limitata)

Limited liability company. The most popular form among foreign investors due to the limited liability of participants and a flexible management structure. The minimum share capital is EUR 10,000. If there is a single founder, the entire capital must be paid in at registration; with two or more founders, it is sufficient to pay in 25% of the share capital. There is also a simplified form, SRLS (Società a Responsabilità Limitata Semplificata), with a minimum capital starting from EUR 1, designed for startups.

SPA (Società per Azioni)

Joint-stock company. Intended for medium and large businesses with a more complex corporate structure. The minimum share capital is EUR 50,000, of which at least 25% (EUR 12,500) must be paid in at registration. This form is suitable for companies planning to attract external investment or pursue a stock exchange listing.

SAS (Società in Accomandita Semplice)

Limited partnership. A flexible form for small and medium businesses. It involves general partners (with unlimited liability) and limited partners (with liability limited to their contribution). There is no minimum capital requirement.

In addition to the above forms, foreign companies may open a branch (succursale) or a representative office in Italy. A branch is not a separate legal entity; however, it must be registered with the Registro delle Imprese and is required to maintain accounting records in accordance with Italian standards.

Company Registration Procedure

Company registration in Italy is carried out by making an entry in the Business Register (Registro delle Imprese) at the local Chamber of Commerce (Camera di Commercio). COREDO coordinates the entire process remotely — physical presence in Italy is generally not required. The process consists of five stages:

Registration of directors and shareholders with the Italian tax authority.

All foreign directors and shareholders obtain an Italian tax code (Codice Fiscale) issued by the Agenzia delle Entrate. COREDO handles this registration on the client’s behalf.

01

Notarial deed of incorporation.

The Articles of Association (Atto Costitutivo) and Statute (Statuto) must be executed as a public deed before an Italian notary. Three options are available: remotely using a digital signature, by a notarised and apostilled power of attorney (online apostille support — EUR 600), or in person in Milan.

02

Obtaining the company VAT number (Partita IVA).

Processing time is approximately 2 working days after the notarial deed is signed.

03

Issuance of the certificate of incorporation (Visura).

COREDO submits the company documentation to the Chamber of Commerce; the certificate of incorporation is typically issued within 2–3 working days.

04

Opening a corporate bank account.

COREDO assists with opening an account with an Italian bank or an alternative payment institution.

05

For certain types of activities (banking services, insurance, financial consulting), an additional licence from the relevant regulator — Banca d’Italia or CONSOB (Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa) — is required.

Required Documents

To launch the registration procedure, the following are required:

a scan or photo of the passport and ID card or driving licence (both sides) of each director and shareholder;

proof of address of each director and shareholder (utility bill or bank statement not older than 3 months);

a description of the company’s planned business activities and the preferred company name.

The memorandum of association (Atto Costitutivo), the articles of association (Statuto) and, where needed, the power of attorney are prepared by the COREDO team. A standard client due diligence (KYC/AML) check is conducted before the registration procedure begins in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements; additional information or documents may be requested during the process.

Capital Requirements

Form	Min. Capital	Payment at Registration
SRL	EUR 10,000	100% (1 founder) / 25% (2+ founders)
SRLS	from EUR 1	100%
SPA	EUR 50,000	25% (EUR 12,500)
SAS	not established	by agreement

Tax System in Italy

The Italian tax system includes two main corporate taxes.

The corporate income tax rate (IRES — Imposta sul Reddito delle Società) is 24%. In addition, a regional production tax (IRAP — Imposta Regionale sulle Attività Produttive) is levied at a standard rate of 3.9%, bringing the effective tax burden to approximately 27.9%.

The standard VAT rate (IVA — Imposta sul Valore Aggiunto) is 22%, with reduced rates of 10%, 5%, and 4% for certain categories of goods and services. The dividend tax for individuals is 26%. Italy has concluded double taxation avoidance agreements with more than 100 countries.

All companies are required to maintain accounting records in accordance with Italian standards and to file an annual tax return with the Agenzia delle Entrate. The financial year generally coincides with the calendar year. Companies with annual turnover exceeding the established threshold are subject to mandatory audit.

Opening a Bank Account

Opening a corporate account is the final stage of the registration process. COREDO specialists assist with opening an account with an Italian bank or an alternative payment institution, which is particularly convenient for non-resident founders. Italy does not impose residency requirements on founders and directors; however, citizens of countries outside the EU must obtain a work permit to manage a company on the territory of Italy.

Compliance and AML

As a member of the European Union, Italy applies strict anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-financing of terrorism (CFT) regulations in accordance with EU directives. Italian legislation requires companies to conduct customer identification (KYC), monitoring of suspicious transactions, and to appoint a compliance officer. Companies are required to comply with GDPR requirements regarding the processing of personal data. Supervision of the financial market is carried out by CONSOB, and of the banking sector — by Banca d’Italia. The Unità di Informazione Finanziaria (UIF) at Banca d’Italia serves as the financial intelligence unit and receives reports on suspicious transactions.

Registration Timelines

Company registration in Italy takes approximately 7 working days from receipt of the complete set of documents and completion of the notarial procedure. The VAT number (Partita IVA) is issued approximately 2 working days after the notarial deed, and the certificate of incorporation (Visura) — within 2–3 working days after VAT registration. Physical presence in Italy is generally not required: COREDO coordinates the entire process remotely.

COREDO Service Fees

Service	Fee
Registration of S.r.l.s. (simplified LLC)	EUR 6,000 + VAT
Registration of traditional S.r.l. (standard LLC)	EUR 7,200 + VAT
Registered office (Sede Legale)	EUR 2,100/year
Online apostille support for the power of attorney	EUR 600

Both packages include: an advisory consultation on company registration; preparation of all required documents (memorandum of association, articles of association, power of attorney); registration of directors and shareholders with the Italian tax authority and obtainment of a Codice Fiscale for each of them; full notarial coordination — preparation of the deed of incorporation and articles, liaison with the notary and management of the signing process; issuance of a digital signature device (firma digitale) for each shareholder and a certified company email address (PEC); filing of the VAT registration application (Partita IVA); and registration with the Chamber of Commerce with obtainment of the certificate of incorporation (Visura).

The registered office is charged separately and is required if the client does not have their own physical address in Italy. S.r.l.s. is a simplified form with share capital from EUR 1 to EUR 9,999: only natural persons may act as founders, a standardised form of articles is used, and formation costs are lower — suitable for startups and small businesses. The traditional S.r.l. is the standard form with a minimum capital of EUR 10,000, fully paid in at incorporation; it is recommended for companies with plans for scaling. The final price may vary depending on the specific case — contact our specialists for an individual estimate.

Our Experts

The COREDO team has been operating since 2016 and possesses deep expertise in company formation across various European jurisdictions.

Nikita Veremeev

Founder & NED of COREDO. Founded the company in 2016 and personally oversees the strategic development of the business across dozens of jurisdictions.

Pavel Kos

Head of Legal. Part of the COREDO team since June 2017, responsible for legal support of corporate projects and company formation.

Basang Ungunov

Lawyer. Part of the COREDO team since June 2022, specialising in legal support for the registration and structuring of companies across various jurisdictions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum share capital for an SRL in Italy?

The minimum share capital for a standard limited liability company (SRL) is EUR 10,000. If there is a single founder, the entire capital must be paid in at registration; with two or more founders, 25% is sufficient. For the simplified form SRLS, the minimum capital is just EUR 1.

Does the founder need to be a resident of Italy?

No, Italian legislation does not require founders and shareholders to hold resident status. However, citizens of countries outside the EU who plan to work personally in the company on the territory of Italy must obtain the relevant work permit.

How long does company registration take?

Registration takes approximately 7 working days from receipt of the complete set of documents and completion of the notarial procedure. The VAT number (Partita IVA) is issued approximately 2 working days after the notarial deed, and the certificate of incorporation (Visura) — within 2–3 working days after VAT registration.

How much does company formation in Italy cost?

Registration of a simplified S.r.l.s. costs EUR 6,000 + VAT; registration of a traditional S.r.l. — EUR 7,200 + VAT. Both packages include document preparation, obtainment of a Codice Fiscale for each director and shareholder, notarial coordination, issuance of a digital signature (firma digitale) and a certified email address (PEC), VAT registration (Partita IVA), and obtainment of the Visura certificate. A registered office is available for EUR 2,100 per year, and online apostille support for EUR 600.

What is the effective corporate tax rate?

The effective rate comprises two components: IRES (corporate income tax) at a rate of 24% and IRAP (regional tax) at a rate of 3.9%, which together amount to approximately 27.9%. The IRAP rate may vary depending on the region and type of activity.

What forms of business are available for foreign investors?

Foreign investors may choose any legal form: SRL (limited liability company), SPA (joint-stock company), SAS (limited partnership), or open a branch of a foreign company. The most popular form is SRL due to its limited liability and management flexibility.

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COREDO specialists provide comprehensive support for the company formation process in Italy — from selecting the legal form to making an entry in the Registro delle Imprese and tax registration. We have been operating since 2016 and help entrepreneurs from dozens of countries successfully build business structures in Europe and beyond.