Open a company in Italy — from anywhere
SRLonline is the English-speaking desk of Proclama S.T.P. S.p.A., a firm of Italian chartered accountants in Catania. We incorporate Italian companies for non-resident founders and run the accounting, tax and payroll afterwards — so you deal with one team, in English, for the whole lifecycle.
- Corporate tax (IRES)
- 24%
- Regional tax (IRAP)
- 3.9%
- Standard VAT
- 22%
- Minimum share capital
- €1
Standard rates in force for 2026. IRAP can vary by ±0.92% depending on the region.
Start here
Three guides written for people who are not resident in Italy and are not expected to know Italian administrative practice.
Open an SRL in Italy
Who can be a shareholder, the reciprocity rule for non-EU founders, share capital, and how to incorporate remotely by video call.
Read the guideTaxes for a foreign-owned Italian company
IRES, IRAP, VAT and the withholding tax on dividends paid to non-resident shareholders — with the treaty and EU exemptions that reduce it.
Read the guideCodice fiscale & VAT for non-residents
The two tax numbers every foreign founder needs, how to get them from abroad, and when a fiscal representative is mandatory.
Read the guideWhat we do for foreign clients
Remote incorporation
Codice fiscale for every shareholder and director, reciprocity check, notarial deed by video conference or under power of attorney, Business Register filing, VAT number, certified email address (PEC) and digital signature.
Cross-border tax planning
Permanent establishment risk, withholding tax on dividends, double tax treaty relief, transfer pricing basics, and the impatriate regime if a founder relocates to Italy.
Ongoing compliance
Bookkeeping, VAT returns and e-invoicing through the Italian SDI system, annual financial statements filed with the Business Register, corporate tax returns, and payroll if you hire in Italy.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner own 100% of an Italian company?
Yes. EU and EEA citizens and companies can hold the entire share capital of an Italian SRL with no additional requirement. Non-EU nationals who do not reside in Italy and hold no Italian residence permit must satisfy the reciprocity condition of article 16 of the preliminary provisions to the Civil Code — verified against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs database, and considered met where a bilateral investment treaty is in force.
Do I have to travel to Italy to set up the company?
Not necessarily. Since Legislative Decree 183/2021 (implementing EU Directive 2019/1151) an SRL or SRLS with its registered office in Italy and share capital paid entirely in cash can be incorporated as a digital public deed with the parties attending by video conference before an Italian notary, using the standard articles of association approved by Ministerial Decree 155/2022 (also published in English). The alternative is a notarised and apostilled power of attorney appointing someone to sign in Italy on your behalf.
How much share capital does an Italian SRL need?
An SRL can be incorporated with share capital as low as €1. Below €10,000 the capital must be paid in full in cash at incorporation, and 20% of annual profits must be allocated to the legal reserve until capital plus reserve reach €10,000. From €10,000 upwards, at least 25% of cash contributions is paid in — and 100% if there is a single shareholder.
How long does incorporation take?
Once every shareholder holds an Italian codice fiscale and the reciprocity check (where applicable) is cleared, the notarial deed and the filing with the Business Register normally complete within one to two weeks. Obtaining the codice fiscale from abroad is usually the longest step.
Tell us what you want to build in Italy
A chartered accountant reads every request and replies within one business day — in English, with a concrete scope and a fixed quote. No obligation.
Proclama S.T.P. S.p.A. — Viale Africa 31/E, 95129 Catania, Italy · VAT IT04048370870 · amministrazione@proclama.co