In Italy, 500,000 new VAT numbers are opened annually, 70% under the flat-rate scheme.
EconomyItaly
- Error detected
- The claim states that 70% of all new VAT numbers are opened under the flat-rate scheme. Official data from the Italian Department of Finance (Osservatorio sulle partite IVA, full-year 2025 synthesis) shows the actual figure is 48.5%, not 70%. The 70% figure is only valid when restricted to the subcategory of natural persons (persone fisiche), which the MEP did not specify.
- Omissions
- The MEP did not specify that the 70% flat-rate figure applies only to 'persone fisiche' (natural persons/individuals), not to all new VAT numbers. Among all categories — which include corporations, partnerships, and other entities — the flat-rate adoption was 48.5% in 2025 according to official data from the Italian Revenue Agency. By omitting this distinction, the claim inflates the perceived prevalence of the flat-rate scheme by over 20 percentage points.
- The claim treats the annual figure of 500,000 as a stable constant, but the actual number fluctuates year to year: in 2024 it was approximately 534,000 and in 2023 about 498,000.
- The 70% figure among natural persons is itself approximate; official Q1 2025 data showed 70.8% of natural persons choosing the flat-rate scheme, but this varies across quarters.
- Sources
- PrimaryDipartimento delle Finanze — Osservatorio sulle partite IVA (Q1 2025)In Q1 2025, 101,450 subjects joined the flat-rate regime (regime forfetario), equal to 54.2% of total new VAT openings in the quarter. Among natural persons, 70.8% chose the flat-rate scheme.
- SecondaryFiscoOggi — Rivista dell'Agenzia delle EntrateIn 2025, 242,529 subjects joined the flat-rate regime (regime forfetario), equal to 48.5% of total new VAT registrations. The total number of new VAT numbers opened in 2025 was approximately 500,000 (derived: 242,529 / 0.485 ≈ 500,060). Among natural persons (persone fisiche), about 70% chose the flat-rate scheme.
- SecondaryUnimpresaIn 2025, 500,000 new VAT numbers were opened. Among natural persons (persone fisiche), 7 out of 10 (70%) chose the flat-rate scheme (regime forfettario).