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Italy Tourist Tax

How does this "tax" apply to Villa rental as they are not star rated. We were notified of this fee several months AFTER booking a villa in Tuscany. The booking agency said it was new as of March 2012 and did not know if it applied or how much it would be other than between .50 and 5.00 euro per night per person. I have difficulty with the translation of the legislation they referenced but it only says the charge is per night. Is this legitimate?

Posted by
653 posts

I paid the tourism tax last year - Florence started using it in July. I've almost always lived in cities (Miami Beach, Las Vegas) that had tourist taxes (sometimes called a "bed tax" since it is paid to hotels), so it's nothing new for me. Tourists bring money, but we also take a toll on infrastructure, so I don't mind paying a couple of euro on top of the room rate - at least I know what it's for.

Posted by
32171 posts

Tony, Unfortunately, this type of "taxation" is becoming more common in many parts of the world. The tourist authorities in this area decided to implement a "Hotel Room Tax" a few years ago and that's now in effect. Since I don't often use lodgings in this area, I don't know whether that just applies to Hotels, or also B&B's and other types of accommodations? I tend to view this as a "cost of travel" and don't have a problem with it. I paid the tax when I was in Rome and other parts of Italy last year, and found that it didn't really affect my room costs at all. From my perspective, there are really only two choices - pay the tax and don't worry about it OR don't travel. Cheers!

Posted by
12 posts

Ken, Agreed, however when you are talking 10 people at up to 5 euro per night per person for 7 nights, 350 euro is not chump change and I wanted to be sure it was legit.
Thanks

Posted by
81 posts

IT'S TRUE CITIES ARE INTRODUCING TOURIST TAX (JUST LIKE NY HAS ALWAYS HAVE). ANY WAY, IF YOU TELL ME THE LEGISLATION THEY REFERRED TO, I CAN TELL YOU WHAT THAT'S ABOUT AND IF IT'S TRUE. I LIVE IN ITALY AND I AM A POLITICIAN, THEY CAN'T TRICK ME. AHAHAHAH

Posted by
12 posts

Thank you for responding. Below is the email sent to me by the booking agent, I just don't understand why we were not informed sooner or how a tax can be imposed after booking and espeacially how the amount is unknown. What are they charging people today? Dear Client, First of all we would like to thank you for choosing one of the ________ properties for your coming holiday in Italy! We are writing to inform you that due to the new tourism regulations, from this season guests that will be staying in Italy will have to pay (where applicable) the Tourism Tax. This tax has been imposed on some but at present not all locations throughout Italy, the amount and towns/regions subject to this tax are still in the initial stages of implementation. Based on Art. 4 of the Legislative Decree n°23 of 14th March 2011 (entered into force from 1st September 2011), the Tourism Tax has been imposed to finance interventions in the tourism sector, including improving local facilities, maintenance, use and recovery of cultural and enviromental heritage, and local public services. The tax is applied to each overnight stay (cost per person/night), and the amount (which appears to vary from between € 0,50 and 5,00 € per person per night) are established by the individual City Halls where the property is registered. The tax, if due, should be paid in cash to the check-in responsible or owner on your arrival at the villa or before your departure. If you would like to read the Italian legislative decree we invite you to click here . http://www.irpet.it/storage/doc/Dlgs_23_2011_(Fisco_municipale).pdf Thank you very much for your attention.
We wish you a very pleasant stay.

Posted by
1127 posts

Cristina, please do not type in all capital letters. It is distracting to read and it appears that you ARE SHOUTING. As a local you will gave great insight to share with the board and I look forward to your advice - just not in caps. Thanks.

Posted by
81 posts

Yes they're right. When they say the amount due changes is because it varies from a town to another, or from a city to another. For example in rome you pay 2€ per night per person since january 1st 2011. Depends on where you're staying. You're right when you say you should be informed in advance, but just for what concerns the national regulation (i would have told you when reserving:: a turist tax may be applied). They're probably telling you right now 'cause where you reserved they've just introduced the tax. This is what i suppose, knowing how law works here (first law is introduced by national government - you have to pay between 0.50 and 5€ - then each single city/town has to adopt itself to national regulation and establishing how much turists on their territory must pay).
If you had reserved a hotel, the tax was already included (just like when you reserve in ny). But has you're renting a villa this is probably way they're telling you to pay it directly to the owner. To all this, add the fact that again, the tax may have been just introduced. That's why they're telling you now.

Posted by
81 posts

Cristina, please do not type in all capital letters. It is distracting to read and it appears that you ARE SHOUTING. As a local you will gave great insight to share with the board and I look forward to your advice - just not in caps. Thanks. REALLY??? I'M NOT SHOUTING!!! I usually write in capital letters cause this way i don't have to bother thinking of putting capital letters when needed.
Any way I was talking to Tony, if capital letters bother you, i'm sorry, but this is not your post and answer wasn't adressed yo you. HAVE A NICE DAY.

Posted by
38 posts

I too am interested in finding out where this tax will apply. I have rented a villa in Positano in July and am wondering if I will be charged this tax upon arrival. How can I find out which cities have levied this tax?

Posted by
619 posts

It is quite amusing to read these indignant posts from U.S. tourists about the possibility of taxes being added to a quoted price. One of the aspects of U.S. life that baffles many Europeans is that sales tax is never shown on the shelf alongside the product - it is just added at the checkout. In restaurants, a 20% tip is obligatory, irrespective of the quality of the service. The price shown is never the price you pay. Why is that acceptable to Americans when buying something at home, but not when abroad? The rate of tax charged is usually determined by the date when a service or product is delivered. That seems to be the position with property and hotel bookings in Italy.

Posted by
7737 posts

Tony, yes it's legit. You'll probably end up paying only a couple euros more per night. There are lots of similar taxes in the US, including Seattle. You may have read that Italy is having severe financial problems, so taxing tourists this little bit rather than taxing the locals makes sense to many. And Cristina, it's really great to have your contributions on this board. Locals always provide very helpful information. But SamSn is correct that it's common internet courtesy to refrain from using all caps because it is indeed considered shouting. And don't you want to keep the ability to shout online when you really want to? :-) Check it out here, here, and here. Thank you for switching back to using lower case letters. Your second post was much easier to read. Happy travels.

Posted by
38 posts

Bob, I don't think it's a matter of being indignant, but just wanting to be informed. I for one like to preplan as much as possible so I can make a budget for my trip. And Cristina, thank you for spending the time answering all of our questions! I don't care if you write in all caps or not!

Posted by
492 posts

At least in Venice, the tax is imposed only on the first 5 nights of any accommodation. For example, for our three-month stay starting the end of October, the tax is 2 euro x 5 nights x 2 persons = 20 euro for a two-bedroom/two-bath apartment. Compare that tax to the 10%+ of the total hotel bill here in San Francisco. The tax is new as mentioned above, so it is not surprising that you are just being notified. And with any new law, compliance can be confusing and spotty but it is definitely legitimate.

Posted by
12 posts

Bob, Yes, I am from the US and we do have a screwed up tax collection system. I have no control over our tax system and would certainly make changes if I did. This post is not a judgement on the Italian Tax its self. All I wanted to do is be sure we are being given correct information. Which it appears we were. I believe it is smart to check things out.
As for your tipping dilemma. In the States most restaurants only charge a mandatory "tip" on a large group. You can ask before sitting but it is on the menus and you can leave before ordering. Unfortunately wait staff in our country are paid below minimum wage and rely on tips to make a decent living. I definitely leave a tip that is equal to the quality of the service received. If you have been told differently you should investigate, as I am trying to do with the "tourist Tax" in Italy.

Posted by
12 posts

Cristina, thank you for your contribution to this post.

Posted by
81 posts

thanks ROBIN, you seem to be the only one understanding me! writing in capital letters is quicker and simpler. everybody's should respect everybody's point of view. that's why i'm not writing capital letters. i hope people will be so kind to stop sending emails about it as i'm busy trying to responde to all the other emails requiring real help, not just complaining!!! i'm american, i've always spent my holidays back home and i'm sure i've never heard anything like that from relatives, tv and so on. you should pay more attention to the content rather than form, just like ROBIN does. thanks Robin, really. ---- tony thanks for appreciating my effort to explain such a diffucult governament in a few words. and hope i didn't offend you with this cap letters thing. ----
feel free to ask further details. like i can try to check if the place you are going to stay has a tax or not.

Posted by
81 posts

also, sorry for the wrong spell, i'm writing from ipad and sometimes gets the wrong words.

Posted by
12 posts

Cristina,
No, I was not offended with the CAPS. We will be staying in Colle Val d'Elsa it is between Florence and Siena. I would really like to be able to report to our group what to expect. I think the part that disturbs me most is the lack of information given by the booking agent. It may apply, it may not apply, it may be .50 euro per night, it may be 5.00 euro a night. So your knowledge is welcome in any font, CAPS or not. :}

Posted by
7737 posts

The info I can find on this sliding fee is about hotels. The more stars, the more they charge. I can't find anything about villa rentals.

Posted by
81 posts

Tony i've found what you need!! http://www.comune.collevaldelsa.it/it/vivere-la-citta/governo-del-territorio/imposta-di-soggiorno/download/1068/1376/15 So the tax was introduced and is gonna start being applied on April 1st. This is the table http://www.comune.collevaldelsa.it/it/vivere-la-citta/governo-del-territorio/imposta-di-soggiorno/download/1052/1376/15
Your classification is letter D "Casa vacanze" so you'll be paying 0.50€ per night per person. Hope this was helpfull. Cristina :)

Posted by
12 posts

Cristina,
YOU ARE AWESOME! Yes, I was yelling that, I hope others find this useful. I never expected to get this much of a response from my posting.

Posted by
81 posts

It's easy when you have someone who knows the language ahahahahha I'm so pleased I could help you through it. So now print this out and take it with you and if the agency or the owner try to trick you you can show it to them. I got it from the town website, the official one. City Council resolution n. 26/2012. It's so great I could actually help you. Have a good one here in Italy :)
Cristina

Posted by
492 posts

.....and only for the first five nights! Looks like 25 euro for all of you.

Posted by
38 posts

Cristina, I couldn't get the internet address to work, but I'll just take your word for it and put the tax into the budget! Are all house rentals only .50 E per person per day in all areas of Italy? Or is the tax rate different from town to town? I was curious about Positano. Thanks for your research!

Posted by
12 posts

The chart was for the town we are staying in in Tuscany. I would not assume the rates are the same in Positano

Posted by
81 posts

I've looked at positano's city hall website, but I can't find anything about a tax. I don't think they have one. I'll cheCk again tomorrow or I'll call positano's city hall to check.

Posted by
81 posts

Tony is right. The table is for what concerns that town in Tuscany, not positano. Each city has his own regulation.

Posted by
32171 posts

Tony, I was looking at this from the perspective of a solo traveller, and if the tax was 5€ per night, it wouldn't make any difference to me. However, as you're paying for 10 people, I agree that's a fair bit of money. It looks like you now have the answers you need, and the costs won't be as much as expected. Cheers!