Compared to the first advances of the index circulated, the Budget Law rises to 91 articles. In the first draft of the article there is confirmation of the cutting of the wedge with an extension of the current measure for the whole of 2024. The text includes the macro chapters on health, pensions, public administration, family and the spending review.
Full adjustment to inflation for pensions up to 4 times the minimum, i.e. below about 2,000 euros, 90% for those between 4 and 5 times the minimum, and 22% (with a cut compared to 32% of the rules in force this year) for the highest ones, i.e. above 10 times the minimum, equal to about 5,000 euros per month. The new indexation therefore rises from 85% (provided for in the previous budget law) to 90% for cheques between 4 and 5 times the minimum (between about 2,000-2,500 euros); it is confirmed at 53% for cheques equal to 5-6 times the minimum; 47% for those between 6 and 8 times; to 37% for those between 8 and 10 times. Finally, it is reduced from 32% to 22% for treatments greater than 10 times the minimum.
A 100% tax relief up to a maximum of 3000 euros per year, without income limits, therefore for all working mothers with the exception of "domestic work": this is what is provided for in the draft of the maneuver among the measures to promote the birth rate. The discount on contributions for the employee's share is linked to the number of children: for mothers with two children it lasts up to the age of 10 for the youngest child, for those with three the discount on contributions lasts longer, up to the age of 18 for the youngest child.
Baby products and 10% tampon tax
No more 5% VAT for baby products and for the so-called tampon tax: the draft of the maneuver provides that powdered milk and preparations for children's nutrition, as well as sanitary napkins, tampons and menstrual cups, pass among the products subject to 10% VAT. The freeze of plastic and sugar taxes for another six months, until the end of June, has been confirmed. The two taxes, introduced with the 2020 budget and never entered into force, should therefore be triggered from 1 July 2024, unless further interventions.
The increase in the bonus to pay fees for public and private kindergartens arrives. But it is only intended for second children born from January 2024, 10 in households with a child under 40 and an ISEE ceiling of up to 000,2 euros. This is provided for in a draft of the maneuver. The increase introduced in 100, which raised the current benefit from €2020,1 to a maximum of €500,3, is "raised to €000,<>".
For tourism, the bonus for night work and holidays is back
Tourism workers will receive a bonus for working at night and on public holidays for the first half of 2024. This is provided for in the draft of the maneuver. For the period from January 2024, 30 to June 2024, 15, tourism workers, including spas, are granted a "special supplementary treatment, which does not contribute to the formation of income, equal to 2023% of gross wages" paid for night work and overtime work carried out on public holidays. The measure applies to workers with employment income not exceeding, in the 40 tax period, <> thousand euros. The objective of the measure of "tax exemption of night and holiday work for employees of tourist-hotel facilities" is to "ensure employment stability and to make up for the exceptional lack of labor supply in the tourism, accommodation and spa sector". A similar bonus had already been introduced by the labor decree for the period June-September of this year.
For PA contracts, 3 billion in 2024, then 5 in 2025
New resources amounting to €8 billion over two years for the new 2022-24 round of contract renewals of the public administration. This is provided for in the draft of the maneuver, which provides that the charges borne by the state budget for collective bargaining will be increased by 3 billion for 2024 and 5 billion for 2025. In addition, from 2024 January 6, the advance payment to be paid is increased by 7.2024 times the contractual holiday allowance. This incremental amount, for the year 2023, is deducted for permanent staff who have already received it in <>.
The Mint will be able to mint coins up to €1,000 for collectors
The Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato will be able to mint coins of higher denominations for collectors than those previously provided, up to 1,000 euros, and extend the creation of the value cards to digital format as well. This is provided for in the measures for the State Mint and Polygraphic Institute contained in the draft of the maneuver. Specifically, the minting and issuance of collectors' coins that are legal tender is authorized only in Italy in denominations of "0.25, 0.75, 1.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 euros". A much wider range of denominations than the current one, which is "5, 10, 20 and 50 euros". It is also expected that the institute, which already has among its tasks the production and supply of security cards, will become the "subject designated for the creation, customization and management of the digital format of the products considered value cards and of the physical documents whose production is entrusted to it". The Institute produces, among other things, electronic passport, electronic identity card, revenue stamps, European driving license. For the implementation of these and to "support and promote the development and implementation of security card traceability systems", expenditure of €1 million is authorised for each of the years 2024, 2025 and 2026. Finally, for the implementation of the activities and measures of the National Cybersecurity Strategy, the National Cybersecurity Agency will be able to "make use of the support of the Institute".
The minimum amount for the advance of the pension goes up
For workers who have been paying contributions since 1996, the minimum amount accrued required to qualify for a pension three years before retirement age increases. The threshold - according to the draft of the maneuver - for at least 20 years of contributions paid rises from 2.8 to 3.3 times the social allowance. In practice, according to the values referring to 2023 from 1,409 euros to 1,660. On the other hand, the limit of 1.5 times the social allowance for access to retirement at 67 years of age once 20 years of contributions have been reached. It will be enough to have reached the amount of the social allowance (503.27 euros in 2023).
From 2025, 42 years and 10 months of contributions may no longer be enough, in addition to the three-month sliding window for access to early retirement regardless of age (41 and 10 months for women): according to the draft of the maneuver, the period in which there are no adjustments to life expectancy is brought forward from the end of 2026 to the end of 2024. So in 2025 this retirement channel will also be linked to life expectancy.
A 'mini-treasure' for unavoidable needs
Two hundred million over two years, in 2024 and 2025, to finance the Fund to meet non-deferrable needs. This is provided for in an article of the draft of the maneuver. This is a fund that is traditionally used to finance the changes approved during the parliamentary examination of the budget law, the so-called treasury.
The tax credit for cinema changes, it is at 40% but it can go down
The tax credit for cinema changes: the percentage of expenditure on which the tax relief for cinematographic works can be applied is 40% but the rate can go down. This is provided for in the draft of the budget law in the chapter relating to the tax credit. In fact, the article provides that it can be remodulated "for budgetary needs or "in relation to the size of the company or groups of companies as well as "in relation to certain eligible costs or eligible cost thresholds, without prejudice to the maximum measure of 40 percent".
Fine from 10 to 50 thousand euros for unfaithful declarations for subjects who certify the costs on which the 40% tax credit for cinema is applied. This is provided for in an article of the draft of the budget law concerning tax relief for the film sector.
In 2024, 600 million for the Dedicated to You card
New resources for the 'Dedicated to You' card. The fund created with the last budget law intended for the purchase of basic necessities for those with an ISEE equal to or less than 15,000 euros, is refinanced in 2024 with 600 million euros. This is provided for in the draft of the maneuver in which, "in consideration of the persistence of conditions of social and economic hardship", the Fund for the distribution of foodstuffs to the needy is also increased by 15 million euros.
Migrant Fund, €200 million in 2024 and €300 million in 2025
€200 million is on the way in 2024 to finance the fund for the reception of migrants, which also supports the municipalities involved and unaccompanied minors. This is what is provided for in a draft of the budget law, which integrates the resources provided for by the advances decree for the migrant chapter, amounting to 2023.46 million in 859.
The allocation in 2025 rises to €300 million, while for the following year the resources are again equal to €200 million.
It is a fund that is in the estimates of the Ministry of the Interior.
For Municipalities and Regions, a spending review of 600 million a year
Cut to the accounts of local authorities to contribute to the spending review: according to what can be read in the draft of the maneuver, the Regions are called upon to cut by 350 million a year (excluding the items social rights and health), the mayors will have to reduce the expenses of the municipalities by 200 million a year while the provinces by 50 million. Among the items in the spending review chapter there are also "measures for turnover" which, however, have not yet declined.
The Social Bee remains for 2024
It will be possible to access the Social Ape throughout 2024. It emerges from the draft of the maneuver that underlines that the provisions of Law No. 11 of 2016 December 232 (which established the EPA), "apply until 31 December 2024". For the unemployed, people with a disability of at least 74%, workers engaged in strenuous activities and workers who care for severely disabled people will be able to access the tool with at least 63 years and five months. The expenditure authorization increases by €85 million for 2024, €168 million for 2025, and €127 million for 2026. If the draft is confirmed in the final version of the bill, the years needed to access the tool will therefore not increase.
Quota 104 arrives 'penalized' for early retirement with at least 63 years of age (they were 62 in 2023) and 41 years of contributions: according to the draft of the maneuver, those who decide to access the pension with this instrument will have a reduction in the amount relating to the salary portion linked to the exit age. The manoeuvre also lengthens the duration of the windows, i.e. the time to wait to have a pension once the requirements have been met, from three to six months for the private sector and from six to nine months for the public sector.
The Rai licence fee drops to €70 in 2024
The Rai licence fee drops to 70 euros for 2024. The novelty, already announced by the government, is provided for in an article of the draft of the budget law. "For the improvement of the quality of the public radio, television and multimedia service throughout the national territory - reads the draft - as part of the initiatives provided for by the National Service Contract between RAI-Radiotelevisione italiana S.p.A. and the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy for the modernization, development and infrastructural management of networks and distribution platforms, as well as the implementation of in-house, radio, television and multimedia productions, the company is granted a contribution of 430 million euros for the year 2024".
Fringe benefits change, €2,000 with children, €1,000 for everyone
For 2024, the tax exemption threshold for fringe benefits (equal to €258) is raised to €1,000 for all employees and €2,000 for those with fiscally dependent children, "including children born out of wedlock recognized, adopted or foster children." This can be read in the draft of the maneuver. On the one hand, all workers are favored indiscriminately, on the other hand, the increase decided with the May 3 decree is scaled back which, for workers with children, brought the tax-free ceiling to 000,2024 euros. The budget law also confirms, also for 3, the tax exemption of performance bonuses: the rate of the substitute tax on productivity bonuses, within the limit of 5 thousand euros, is reduced to <>%.
For healthcare, €3 billion confirmed in 2024
The level of financing of national health needs is increased by €3 billion for 2024, €4 billion for 2025 and €4.2 billion from 2026. This is provided for in an article of the draft of the maneuver. On October 17, in the Senate's Social Affairs Committee, Minister Orazio Schillaci spoke of "3.3 billion for a total increase of 5.6 billion for the year." However, this figure includes 300 million destined for Sicily for 2023, with the decree that precedes the maneuver, as a "contribution to the burden deriving from the increase in the regional share of health spending".
€250 million in two years to upgrade the LEA To allow the update of the Essential Levels of Assistance (LEA), a share of €50 million is confirmed for the year 2024 and a share of €200 million starting from the year 2025, from the level of financing of standard national health needs. This is provided for in an article of the draft of the maneuver. In addition, the increase in expenditure of €250 million for the year 2025 and €350 million from the year 2026 is confirmed, from the financing of the National Health Service, "in order to further support the implementation of organizational, quantitative, qualitative and technological standards in addition to those provided for by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) for the enhancement of territorial assistance, with reference to the higher costs for the expenditure of employees and for those who have an agreement".
The expenditure ceiling for the purchase of health services from private individuals has been updated in order to guarantee the performance of the Essential Levels of Assistance (LEA): an increase in expenditure of 1% is expected for 2024, 3% for 2025 and 4% for 2026. This is provided for in the draft of the maneuver. "In order to contribute to the orderly disbursement of the LEAs - it reads - the expenditure limit is redetermined in the value of the expenditure completed in the year 2011 increased by 1 percentage point for 2024, 3 points for 2025 and 4 points from 2026, without prejudice to compliance with the economic and financial balance of the regional health service".
The increase in the hourly rate has been confirmed up to €60 gross for nurses and staff in the health sector and up to €100 for doctors in the National Health Service for additional services intended to address the shortage of health personnel, reduce waiting lists and the use of outsourcing. This is provided for in an article of the draft of the maneuver. The authorization for increases in the hourly rates of additional services, it reads, applies until December 31, 2026 and "is extended, from 2024 to 2026, to all additional services performed by medical personnel." For each of the years 2024, 2025 and 2026, expenditure of €200 million for medical personnel and €80 million for health personnel in the sector is authorised.
The tourist tax can go up by 2 euros for the Jubilee
On the occasion of the Jubilee 2025, provincial capital municipalities, unions of municipalities, tourist resorts and cities of art can increase the amount of the tourist tax to be paid by those who stay in accommodation facilities located on their territory, up to 2 euros per night of stay. The relevant revenue remains at their disposal to be used to finance interventions related to the events of the Jubilee. This is provided for in an article of the draft budget law.
Women's option also in 2024 but at 61 years old
Working women who have reached at least 35 years of contributions by 2023 will be able to access the pension with the Women's Option as long as they are 61 years old, a requirement reduced by one year for each child up to a maximum of two. This is what emerges from the draft of the budget. The amount of the pension will be recalculated in full using the contributory method. The restrictions provided for in 2023 remain (you must be unemployed, a care giver or with a disability of at least 74%) as well as the sliding window of one year for employees and 18 months for self-employed once the requirements to obtain the check have been met.
For short-term rentals, the flat rate and withholding tax rise to 26%
The tax regime for short-term rentals changes, with the increase in the flat rate and withholding tax for rents, which go from 21% to 26%. This is provided for in a draft of the maneuver.
Taxes on cigarettes increase, +10/12 cents per pack
Taxes on cigarettes are increasing, with adjustments to the values of the specific component and the minimum tax burden, leading to price increases of between ten and twelve cents per pack in 2024. This is what emerges from the draft of the maneuver that also adjusts the taxation on heated tobacco: the increases planned in 2024 and 2025 remain confirmed, while taxation grows by a further point in 2026 compared to what is already planned. As a result of the increases on cigarettes, for 2024 the maneuver will also involve increases of about 10 cents per pack on heated tobacco. Taxation on cut tobacco is rising, with impacts estimated by industry experts of about 30 cents per bag. On e-cigarettes there is a plan of annual increases (1% per year, both for liquids with nicotine and those without nicotine) in 2025 and 2026.
All rights reserved © Copyright ANSA