01
What you need
Opening a partita IVA, setting up an S.r.l., or help with your yearly tax return. Pick the closest, the details come later.
- Albo-registered studios
- Free for you
- English & Italian
Your accountant in Italy, in English.
Opening a partita IVA, setting up an S.r.l. or filing your tax return? Answer ten quick questions and we match you with qualified Italian accountants. Free, no account needed.
How it works
Nine steps towards your commercialista and VAT number
No surprises. You can see exactly what’s coming, every step of the way.
02
Where and in which language
Your city, whether you want to meet in person or remote is fine, and the language you want to work in.
03
Your situation
Your citizenship, your permit and where you were tax resident before. These decide which rules apply to you.
04
Your income and work
What you expect to bill, or your yearly income as an employee, and the kind of work you do.
05
Anything abroad
Clients or a salary from outside Italy, and investments or bank accounts held abroad. Each comes with its own paperwork.
06
Your three matches
Three Albo-registered studios, ranked on their expertise in cases like yours, their fees and how fast they reply. Nobody pays to rank higher.
07
Compare and prepare
Read the profiles and fee ranges side by side, with the topics worth raising in your first call.
08
Send a message
Write to the studio you choose. Your answers go only to them, and only once you confirm.
09
Your commercialista takes over
From the first call they handle it: your VAT number, your company, or your tax return, in your language.
Registered professionals only
We check every studio against the Albo dei Dottori Commercialisti e degli Esperti Contabili before it is listed.
No paid ranking
Studios cannot buy a higher position. A sponsored studio is always marked as sponsored.
Free for you
Studios pay a fixed yearly listing fee. You never pay Startiva, and we take no cut of what you pay your accountant.
The basics
What a commercialista does for you
A commercialista is a licensed accountant and tax adviser. If you work for yourself in Italy, you will need one for most of this, and it is much easier when they explain it in your language.
A general overview, not tax advice. Your commercialista tells you what applies to you.
- Once, at the start
Opening your partita IVA
Registering your VAT number with the Agenzia delle Entrate, choosing the right activity code (ATECO) and signing you up with INPS for pension contributions.
- At the start, then yearly
Choosing your tax regime
Flat-rate (forfettario) or ordinary. It depends on how much you expect to earn, your costs, and whether you are new to Italy.
- If you moved from abroad
The impatriati regime
If you moved here after years abroad, part of your income may be tax-free for several years. The conditions are strict, so check them before you register.
- Every invoice
Invoices and VAT
Electronic invoicing through the SdI is mandatory. Clients or suppliers abroad mean extra steps, like registering for VIES.
- Every year
Tax return and payments
Your yearly return (Modello Redditi) and the F24 payments for tax and contributions, due mainly in June and November.
- If it fits your plans
Starting a company
Setting up an SRL, keeping the books and filing the yearly accounts, when a company makes more sense than freelancing.
Looking for something else?
Startiva starts with commercialisti. Tell us what else you need in Italy and we'll bring the right people into the network.
Questions about working in Italy
The things people ask most before they open a partita IVA. For your own case, ask your commercialista.
Can a foreigner open a partita IVA in Italy?
Yes. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can open one like an Italian citizen, usually once they are resident and have a codice fiscale. Non-EU citizens generally need a residence permit that allows self-employment (lavoro autonomo). A commercialista checks your case before anything is filed.
How long does it take to open a partita IVA?
The registration itself is quick: once your commercialista files the form with the Agenzia delle Entrate, the number is often issued the same day. What takes time is the preparation: choosing the activity code, the tax regime and the INPS registration.
What is the flat-rate scheme (regime forfettario)?
A simplified regime for freelancers and small businesses with revenue up to €85,000 a year. Instead of normal income tax you pay a single 15% tax on a fixed share of your revenue, or 5% for the first five years of a new activity if you meet the conditions. You do not charge VAT on your invoices.
Do I need a commercialista in Italy?
It is not mandatory, but most freelancers and every company use one. Registration, e-invoicing, the yearly tax return and the INPS payments all follow Italian rules and deadlines that are easy to get wrong on your own.
How much does a commercialista cost?
Every studio shows its yearly fee range on its profile. Right now studios in the network ask between €∞ and €-∞ a year, depending on the studio and how complex your situation is.
Where are the studios?
Startiva is based in Rome, and the studios are spread all over Italy. Most of them also work remotely, so you can work with one wherever you live.
What does Startiva cost me?
Nothing. Seeing your matches, their contacts and sending your brief are free. Studios pay Startiva a fixed yearly fee to be listed.
Can a studio pay to be ranked higher?
No. Matches are ordered by expertise, reviews, fees and reply time. There is a sponsored slot, but it is shown separately and labelled.
Do you give tax advice?
No. We list the topics worth raising in your first call. What applies to you is for your commercialista to say.
Who sees my answers?
Only the studios you send your brief to, your three matches or the one studio you message from its page, and only after you confirm. Until then your answers stay with us.