Apennines, flat tax at 7% for pensioners abroad who move to earthquake areas: 500 sign-ups so far

A flat tax at 7 per cent to encourage the return of those who left for work but also to cope with the depopulation of the countries hit by the earthquake. This is the purpose of the initiative presented at Palazzo Chigi to revive the areas hit by the 2009 and 2016 earthquakes and is aimed at retired citizens living abroad who decide to move to one of the municipalities of the central Apennines: in Umbria, Marche, Abruzzo and Lazio. Provided, however, that the inhabitants are less than 20 thousand.

A rule that, as explained by the commissioner for the 2016 earthquake, Guido Castelli, "has been in operation for a few years" even though it "remained unknown to those potentially interested and allows a foreign pensioner, even a very wealthy one, to enjoy the 7% flat tax on all their income for 10 years". Membership so far has in fact numbered around 500 people. The aim now is also to publicise and relaunch the measure. For Castelli, therefore, the number of responses received can be multiplied if there is 'teamwork'.

Speaking at the conference was the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Edmondo Cirielli, who emphasised that the Farnesina 'will take the measure to heart'. "I am convinced that it will paradoxically also make our diplomacy more attractive, the ability to present beautiful and quality things," he added. And precisely in this regard, he let it be known that on the days when Italian culture will be discussed in the country's embassies around the world "we will certainly also include this great opportunity".

There are two requirements to obtain the 7% flat tax: 'To be the owner of pension income from a foreign entity' and to have been resident outside Italy for at least five years. This applies to both Italian and foreign citizens. To take advantage of the measure it is then necessary, as a first step, to locate a house in one of the 131 municipalities in the central Apennines affected by the earthquakes with a population of less than 20,000 inhabitants and indicate it as the place of residence. Although there is an awareness that this measure will not overcome "the demographic problem of the central Apennines", for Castelli, in any case, "trying to revitalise and activate the resources possible in areas that have suffered the wound of the earthquake is strategic".