Blog

We keep you up to date on the latest tax changes and news in the industry.

Italy's Tax Troubles Deepen: Minister Labels Evasion as

Italy's notorious tax evasion issue, a concern recognized across Europe, has proven more severe than previously estimated. A new official report reviewed by Reuters indicates that uncollected taxes and social contributions soared to €102.5 billion ($119 billion) in 2022, rising from €99 billion the previous year.

This trend negates what was earlier celebrated as gradual progress, highlighting that since 2020, the situation has rebounded and worsened over the past few years.

Image 2

A Ticking Political Time Bomb

The revelation is proving to be a political challenge for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Her administration’s position is that strict enforcement and anti-evasion measures have failed, opting for a more lenient approach by elevating the cash-payment threshold from €1,000 to €5,000 and sanctioning tax amnesties for liabilities preceding 2023.

Opponents argue these regulatory relaxations effectively incentivize lawbreakers, while economists caution that this leniency might erode a decade's worth of advancements towards a more transparent economic framework.

Image 3

During a parliamentary session in January 2024, Deputy Economy Minister Maurizio Leo, as reported by Reuters, equated tax evasion to terrorism, underscoring its destructive impact, as Italy advances its tracking of undeclared income online.

The Shift in Figures

The updated statistics are a result of revisions by the national statistics bureau, ISTAT, which revamped its assessment method in 2024. This recalibration uncovered greater non-compliance compared to past reports, showing a mere €5.9 billion reduction in evasion between 2018 to 2022, contrasting the formerly reported €26 billion decrease.

These figures are crucial not just for domestic politics but also for EU fiscal dialogues. Rome experiences significant pressure from Brussels to lower its debt-to-GDP ratio, still lingering around 137%, more tax evasion complicates these efforts.

Image 1

A Broader European Perspective

Italy continues to be an outlier in Europe in terms of its "shadow economy." According to Eurostat, Italians heavily rely on cash transactions more than any other significant eurozone members, despite incentives for digital transactions. In contrast, countries like Spain, France, and Germany have successfully curtailed their shadow economies since the pandemic, whereas Italy remains stagnant with high levels of informal economy.

The Meloni administration claims that reducing penalties will spark voluntary compliance and increase tax collection, but early evidence hints otherwise. A 2025 study by the University of Bologna highlights that voluntary compliance schemes reclaim just 35-40% of owed taxes on average.

The Road Ahead

The 2026 budget proposal by the government features another tax pardon, enabling individuals and companies to settle outstanding dues sans penalties or interest — an action the European Commission has already criticized as "fiscally hazardous."

However, Italy's struggle transcends beyond political strategies. It is embedded historically, structurally, and culturally over decades. From cash-dependent artisans in Naples to underreported earnings in Rome's hospitality sector, the culture of evasion remains a persistent challenge, seldom deterred by reforms.

Italy's burgeoning €100 billion tax gap is not just a mere statistic; it signals a regressive trend. The nation that once aimed to eradicate its shadow economy through enhanced enforcement now faces retrogression, possibly destabilizing its budget, affecting investor trust, and escalating EU tensions about Italy’s fiscal integrity.

Without significant reforms, Italy's shadow economy might once again loom large over Europe’s fourth-largest economy.

Share this article...

Sign up for our newsletter.

Each month, we will send you a roundup of our latest blog content covering the tax and accounting tips & insights you need to know.

I confirm this is a service inquiry and not an advertising message or solicitation. By clicking “Submit”, I acknowledge and agree to the creation of an account and to the and .

We care about the protection of your data.

Ask me anything! Our Ai Smart Bot Can Assist With Questions You May Have
If you'd prefer a call - click Contact Us Now below
Please fill out the form and our team will get back to you shortly The form was sent successfully