How to invoice in Italy
Italy runs the most advanced e-invoicing system in Europe: structured invoices flow through the Sistema di Interscambio (SdI). This page explains the 22% IVA, the Partita IVA, and how that system shapes an Italian invoice.
| Italy at a glance | Detail |
|---|---|
| Currency | EUR (€) |
| Standard IVA | 22% |
| Tax ID | P.IVA |
| Paper size | A4 |
| Typical terms | Net 30 |
| E-invoicing | Mandatory — live |
Tax ID format: “IT” followed by eleven digits — e.g. IT12345678901 (the Partita IVA).
What Italian invoices must include
- The word “Invoice” and a unique, sequential invoice number
- The issue date (and the supply date if it differs)
- Your business name, address and P.IVA
- The client's name and address (and their P.IVA for reverse-charge or intra-EU supplies)
- A clear description and quantity for each line
- The net amount per IVA rate, the rate(s) applied and the IVA amount
- The total payable, in EUR
- Payment terms, the due date and how to pay (bank name, IBAN/account)
- The recipient's SdI recipient code (Codice Destinatario) or certified email (PEC)
- Your Partita IVA and, for individuals, the Codice Fiscale
IVA & reverse charge
For cross-border work, the right wording matters. Invoice Forever offers ready-made Italian IVA notes such as:
- Intra-Community supply, article 138(1), VAT Directive 2006/112
- Reverse charge — VAT to be accounted for by the recipient (article 196, VAT Directive 2006/112)
E-invoicing in Italy
Electronic invoicing through the SdI in the FatturaPA format has been mandatory for essentially all domestic B2B and B2C invoices since 2019. A paper or plain-PDF invoice does not satisfy the Italian rules for those transactions.
Invoice Forever can export a structured EN 16931 / Peppol BIS (UBL) e-invoice alongside the PDF (beta) — the format most of these mandates are built on. You still send it via your own access point, and some countries require their own national format.
Verified 23 July 2026 against the source. E-invoicing rules are changing quickly, so always confirm the current position with the Agenzia delle Entrate before you rely on it. This page is general guidance, not tax advice.
Payment terms in Italy
Net-30 is common in Italy. As across the EU, 30 days is the default term when none is agreed, and very long terms are hard to enforce.
Questions about invoicing in Italy
The standard IVA rate is 22%, with reduced rates of 10%, 5% and 4% for specific goods and services.
Yes. Domestic invoices must be issued electronically through the SdI in FatturaPA format. Invoice Forever produces a professional PDF, which suits quotes, drafts and non-SdI uses — confirm your SdI obligations with the Agenzia delle Entrate.
It is the Italian VAT number, an 11-digit identifier that must appear on your invoices.
Make an invoice for Italy, free.
EUR and 22% IVA already set, on A4 paper. No signup, no watermark.
Make an invoice for Italy