FreddyBee

May I ask a follow-up question, Margaret M? Were you already registered as resident in Italy before you applied for the codice? I have been told, by Italians, that (a) I must have the codice to sign a lease, (b) I must have a lease to register as a resident, (c) I must be a resident to apply for a codice in Italy. I tried to ask the Italian Embassy here for clarification, but received a brusque reply. So I'm totally confused.

nicktonight

Hi Freddy, there is no need to be a resident to get a codice fiscale. Perhaps things have changed a bit but mine was also delivered over the counter on the same day and actually to a friend. It is a good idea to have a codice to sign a short-term lease but here again I got my first one without a codice.

37100

You do not need to be resident to get a Codice fiscale. You will need one to sign a lease and hook up utilities. You do not necessarily need a lease to sign up as a resident, but you do need proof of an address. Once you have signed up as a resident, the local vigile usually come round and check.

Geordieborn

Freddy have a look here

Margaret M

No, we weren't resident, we hadn't even permanently moved here. My husband was house hunting, and I was on holiday to see our prospective house a few months later.

modicasa

Anyone can get a CF - all you need is a completed form available here:Codice Fiscale
Your passport and a photocopy of your passport. Go to the Agenzia dell'entrate, push the button for Codice Fiscale and you will be done and dusted in 10 mins.
Once you have the CF you can open bank accounts, sign a lease and get residency. Make photocopies of your paper copy,

nicktonight

Once you have the CF you can open bank accounts, sign a lease and ...... have a long hard think before getting residency bearing in mind all the info on this forum - about declaring and paying taxes on everything you have in a highly indebted country that has already made a grab at peoples bank accounts and in particular in Sicily where good healthcare is hard to find (due to a lack of resources).

philat98

Good advice Nick. Forget about the CF and keep your residence below 183 days per year and you will save a fortune. The accountants fee alone is quite a lot before youve paid any tax.

Margaret M

Our accountants fees here are a mere fraction of what they were in the UK.

nicktonight

I lived perfectly happily without an accountant before coming to Italy where absolutely everyone seems to have one. For most people therefore this will be an additional expense.

nicktonight

Margaret I am very surprised to hear that your accountant charges "a mere fraction" of your UK accountant. I have looked around a lot and most accountants seem to charge about the same or only slightly less than in the UK - not only that but as there is far more paperwork for absolutely everything in Italy the total accountancy costs end up a lot higher. Are you sure that your Italian accountant is doing the same job as your UK one did?

philat98

My previous accountant gave me an estimate for Unico of Euro 300 and then sent me a bill for Euro 600.
Having to declare all your overseas assets in my view encourages them to up their fees. Also it is not that easy to find accountants who are familiar with Quadro RW.

nicktonight

"Also it is not that easy to find accountants who are familiar with Quadro RW" True Phil, and make sure they do understand it - Mine didn't understand it back in 2012 and I ended up paying a fine this year (nothing too dramatic though!)

modicasa

Philat - that sound extortionate. I pay 700 euro pa for my business and personal accounts - which includes IVA, intrastat, all my IMU etc, INPS and the lot. Id find another accountant!

37100

You were robbed.