Company registration in Italy takes place with the local Business Register, and it is a mandatory step for all those who want to create a business. In this article, our team discusses the role of the Register and the main submissions that take place with this authority as part of the business registration process. Upon request, our Italian lawyers offer complete assistance for the application made by investors to this Register.
| Short Facts | |
| Trade Register in Italy is known as | Italian Business Register/ Registro delle Imprese |
| Controlled by | The Chamber of Commerce |
| Applicable legislation | DPR No. 581/1995, Civil Code (Article 2193) |
| Main role | Business incorporation/registration |
| Other important functions | – provides access to information of existing companies, – records all business updates, – issues company reports, etc. |
| Required incorporation documents | – Articles & Memorandum of Association, – proof of paid incorporation fee/registered business address, – copies of IDs/passports of shareholders, etc. |
| Standard application form | Offered by the Italian Business Register. This document must be completed with company information before incorporation. |
| Issues Certificates of Registration (YES/NO) | YES |
| Incorporation & administration fees | Paid with the Italian Trade Register |
| Business updates that must be registered | When changing the: – business structure – address – name – shareholders/management, etc. |
| Legal agent/representative for business registration | Required for foreigners opening companies in Italy |
| Precautions | Obtaining the tax ID before business registration in Italy |
| Electronic signatures allowed (YES/NO) | YES |
| Incorporation fee | Around EUR 520 |
| Working with our Italian lawyers | For representation with the Italian Trade Register when registering a company. |
Table of Contents
What is the Italian Business Register?
The Business Register (in Italian, Registro delle Imprese) is the official database containing (and updating) information on locally registered legal entities. It is overseen by the Chamber of Commerce, functioning under the Ministry of Economic Development.
The portal offers easy access to company searches (for those interested in finding out more about an Italian company), as well as access to financial information and a general list of companies in the country.
Company registration in Italy is not considered complete without the successful entry of the new business into this Register.
There are three main sub-sections containing official data on companies in Italy that are accessible when using the Register:
- company reports;
- annual accounts;
- list of companies.
What types of companies are entered into the Register?
Investors who register a company in Italy will make a mandatory submission with the Registro delle Imprese for the following business forms:
- sole traders;
- commercial companies;
- cooperatives;
- simple partnerships;
- European economic interest groups.
The obligation to follow the steps to register a business in Italy also applies to farmers and professional partnerships of lawyers, among others.
Companies pay an annual fee to the Chamber of Commerce, amount that changes every year. You can reach out to our team for more information about these requirements.
What are the documents submitted for business registration in Italy?
Entrepreneurs submit a mandatory set of documents as part of the business registration process. Generally, for a private limited liability company (which is among the most commonly used business forms in Italy), these include the following:
- the application for registration, duly filled in with complete information;
- the Deed of Incorporation, prepared in the presence of a notary. This document can be drawn up with the assistance of the company registration specialists at our law firm in Italy;
- information on the company founders (please note that public information on company beneficiaries is included in the Italian Register of Beneficiaries).
What information on Italian companies is available to the public?
The Register offers some information on Italian companies free of charge. Among the public data available to any user is the company name and its registered address in Italy. More complex data, such as financial information, is subject to a paywall.
The data that can be found on the Register, once investors register a business in Italy, includes:
- name and registered office;
- legal form and main business activity;
- VAT number;
- capital and legal representatives;
- branches, if any.
Access to some public documents is also offered, such as the financial statements or the list of shareholders.
Inquiries performed with the Register are subject to fees. Some examples are listed below by our attorneys in Italy:
- company registration report fee: EUR 3/3.5/5 depending on the business form;
- annual account: EUR 2.5;
- company address list (for each inquiry): EUR 0.02;
- list of companies (for each list): EUR 5.
Please keep in mind that the amounts above do not include legal fees or other costs that apply for company registration in Italy.
Do you want to register a company in Italy? Our lawyers in Italy can help you prepare and submit the incorporation documents in the right format so that your company will be entered into the Registry as soon as possible. Contact us for more information about our incorporation solutions.