Contents
Saldo & acconti: what they are
Saldo is the difference between the tax you actually owe for last year and what was already withheld or prepaid. If withholdings (or prior prepayments) were not enough, you pay a balance; if they were more than enough, you get a refund or a credit.
Acconti are advance payments toward the current year’s tax. They exist so the Treasury doesn’t wait until next year to collect all of your bill. For most taxpayers, advances are split into two installments within the year. The exact amounts depend on your prior year’s tax or—if you opt in—on a forecast of the current year.
Both saldo and acconti can apply to IRPEF (personal income tax), to local surtaxes (regional/municipal), and—if you are self-employed—to INPS social contributions connected to your freelance/business income.
Who actually pays
Not everyone owes advances every year. It depends on your income mix and on how much has already been withheld at source.
- Employees with only payroll income. If your employer’s withholdings fully cover your tax, you may owe no saldo and no acconti. Add acconti only when you also have other taxable income (e.g., rentals, freelance, capital income to be declared).
- Freelancers/Partita IVA and landlords. You typically owe saldo on last year’s tax and acconti on the current year, for both IRPEF/local surtaxes and (if applicable) INPS contributions related to freelance/business income.
If you changed city mid-year, switched from employment to freelance, or started/stopped renting a property, expect saldo & acconti to appear even if prior years were “zero”: the system reacts to your new taxable base.
How amounts are calculated
There are two approaches. The default is the historical method: this year’s acconti are computed as a percentage of last year’s final tax. It’s simple and safe (you won’t be short if your income is stable or growing). The alternative is the forecast method (previsionale): you estimate this year’s tax and pay advances on that lower figure if your income is falling (or if big deductions kick in). Forecasting helps cash flow, but underpaying leads to interest and penalties—so use it only with solid projections and documents to prove them.
Acconti are usually split in two installments within the year. The second one tops you up to the full annual advance. For self-employed people, the same logic often applies to INPS advances (on the contribution base tied to your taxable income), alongside any fixed minimums set for specific INPS funds or categories. If you’re new to self-employment in Italy, clarify with your advisor which INPS regime you fall under and whether minimums apply to you.
Remember: advances are not an extra tax. They reduce next year’s balance. The “ouch” moment is the first cycle, when your balance for last year and the first advance for the current year are due close together.
Deadlines and how to pay
Italy’s calendar concentrates payments around mid-year and late in the year. The specifics (exact dates and percentages) can change with each Budget Law or Revenue guidance, but the pattern remains: the balance for year N and the first advance for year N+1 are due around mid-year; the second advance for year N+1 comes later in the year. Employees who file via the 730 may settle and prepay directly through payroll; everyone else generally pays through the F24 form.
When in doubt on current deadlines or codes, check the Italian Revenue Agency’s portal and the F24 instructions: see the Agenzia delle Entrate and the F24 guide on the same portal. For social contributions and category-specific guidance, consult INPS and the section for your fund (e.g., Gestione Separata or artisans/traders funds). Your software or accountant will map the right “codici tributo” on the F24 so each component (IRPEF, local surtaxes, INPS) is paid to the right box.
If cash is tight, Italy often allows installment plans on some payments for those who qualify. Be aware that installments add interest and sometimes require timely setup—ask before the due date, not after.
The first-year cash shock (and how to plan)
Why does the first Italian tax season feel heavy? Because you pay the saldo for last year (when no or few advances were paid) and the first slice of the new year’s acconti—often within the same window. The second advance arrives later in the year. From the second cycle onward, the rhythm normalizes as you’ve already prepaid part of what you’ll owe next year.
A simple strategy is to “self-withhold” during the year: each month set aside a percentage of gross revenue (for freelancers) or of rental income (for landlords) into a separate savings sub-account. Increase the percentage in months when you receive bonuses or high revenue. Keep a running sheet that projects your year-end tax and updates expected acconti every quarter; switch to the forecast method only if the projection justifies it and you have documents to back the change (lower revenue, maternity/paternity, deductible events, etc.).
If you moved city mid-year, remember that regional and municipal surtaxes change by location; a job move from one region to another can nudge both your balance and your advances. Changes in family status can also reduce IRPEF via credits and lower next year’s acconti—make sure HR or your accountant records them promptly.
Using the forecast method safely
Forecasting is a legitimate way to reduce advances when income will actually be lower or when large deductions are certain (e.g., mortgage interest, documented medical expenses, charitable donations within legal caps). Treat it as a controlled exception, not the default. Document everything: invoices showing reduced turnover, termination letters, medical receipts, mortgage statements. If your year ends higher than forecast, you’ll owe interest/penalties on the shortfall—manageable if the underpayment was small and corrected quickly, but avoidable with conservative assumptions.
For freelancers, remember that INPS advances may use a different base and fixed minimums can apply. A fall in taxable profit reduces IRPEF advances more than social-security ones if minimum contributions still apply to your category; build that into your cash plan so the November payment does not catch you off guard.
What to prepare for your advisor
Clean inputs make for reliable saldo & acconti. Assemble a single folder with identification and income proofs, and include a one-page note on expected changes this year so your advisor can evaluate a forecast safely.
- Last year: income summaries (CU/Certificazione Unica for employment, rental contracts/receipts, freelance bookkeeping), prior F24s, and any withholding certificates. Add city changes, family status updates, and deductible expenses.
- This year (forecast): year-to-date revenue, recurring client contracts, HR letters on salary/bonus changes, known deductions, and any relocation or status change that alters local surtaxes.
If you’re filing in Italy for the first time, bring proof of when you became resident and how long you spent in each city. If you have foreign income or assets, flag them early; they can change both your balance and your advances through credits and monitoring requirements.
Saldo & acconti are not a penalty—just timing. Understand the mechanics, pick the right calculation method, and fund the year methodically, and you’ll avoid unpleasant surprises while keeping cash predictable.
