Italy implements new e-commerce levy and doubles financial transaction tax to boost revenue
High-tax Italy is implementing new measures to increase state revenue, including a levy on shipments from non-EU countries valued up to 150 euros ($176.31) and a doubling of its financial transactions tax. These changes, revealed in official documents, are designed to fund costly budget amendments as Rome seeks additional financial resources.
The new levy on low-value postal packages will be set at 2 euros for each shipment. According to parliamentary documents seen by Reuters, this contribution is expected to generate 122.5 million euros next year, followed by 245 million euros annually in both 2027 and 2028. This move aligns with a broader proposal being discussed at the European Union level and specifically targets online platforms like Shein and Temu. The government aims to protect Italy's domestic fashion industry from low-cost foreign imports, primarily originating from China.
The new policy addresses the significant increase in cross-border e-commerce. Data indicates that EU customs authorities processed approximately 4.6 billion low-value packages purchased online in 2024. Of these, 91% originated from China, representing a doubling of the figure recorded in 2023.
In addition to the shipping levy, the government plans to increase Italy's existing tax on financial instruments. The tax weighing on the transfer of shares and other financial instruments will be raised from the current 0.2% to 0.4%. This adjustment is projected to yield an additional 337 million euros starting next year.
These revenue-generating measures coincide with projections for Italy's overall tax burden. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government forecasted in September that the politically sensitive tax burden—defined as the level of taxes and social contributions relative to GDP—is expected to increase to 42.8% this year, up from 42.5% in 2024. This figure places Italy among the developed economies with the highest tax levels.
