Excise

Fuel excise duties, towards household-business bonus. For the State extra revenue of 9.5 million a day

The Cdm will focus its efforts on families with Isee under 15,000 euro, hauliers and companies. For the State extra 9.5 mln per day

by Rome Editorial Staff

16 March 2026

Aiuti «mirati» nel prossimo Consiglio dei ministri sulle accise per i carburanti

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

Fuel subsidy and targeted aid
Mobile excise and extra excise
The precedent of the Dragh government
European Council and Council of Ministers

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The government does not seem inclined towards a new excise tax cut on fuels. After the attack by Israel and the US on Iran and the price rise, the most likely hypothesis is an anti-recession bonus for families with an Isee under 15,000 euro, together with tax relief for the most exposed companies, amid higher bills and export blocks.

However, technical and political doubts remain on the table, while oppositions and consumers demand more immediate measures against high petrol and diesel prices.

Fuel subsidy and targeted aid

The line indicated by Enterprise Minister Adolfo Urso is that of selective interventions. Together with Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, he is considering 'compensatory' measures for low-income households, road haulage and businesses. The idea is to concentrate resources on those most affected, avoiding a generalised cut in excise duties.

Mobile excise and extra excise tax

The opposition insists instead on mobile excise taxes. Elly Schlein calls for an immediate return to citizens of the extra revenue collected by the state when petrol and diesel exceed certain thresholds. The Pd leader also attacks on a political level: 'The days are running out and Italians do not want to pay for Trump and Netanyahu's illegal wars'.

Codacons, too, is calling for direct action on excise duties and estimates at 16.5 million euro per day the increased outlay for motorists due to price increases.

Then there is another effect, less visible but just as relevant: as prices rise, tax revenues also grow. According to Codacons, since VAT and excise duties account for about 58 per cent of the final price of petrol and diesel, the State is reportedly collecting €9.5 million a day more than at the end of February thanks to price rises at the pump. In other words, while families and businesses are footing the bill for international instability, the public coffers are benefiting from price increases.

The subject of mobile excise duties was also mentioned by Vice-Premier Antonio Tajani, who said on the sidelines of the Tg2 50 years of news event that a cut in excise duties could be made, using the VAT surplus as compensation. One thing to consider, however, is that the VAT surplus, if any, will have to wait until the end of the month.

This is probably why Urso stays on a different line.

Caro carburanti, Salvini: "Sospendere sanzioni su petrolio e gas russi è proposta di buon senso"

The precedent of the Draghi government

Minister Urso cites the excise tax cut decided by Mario Draghi in 2022 to explain the government's caution. According to the minister, that measure cost about a billion a month and did not stop inflation; moreover, according to the findings of the Chamber's Budget Office, the benefits went mainly to the better-off classes.

Codacons disputes this reading: it argues that the cut in fuel taxation immediately brought inflation down from 6.5 per cent to 6 per cent and generated total savings of around 4 billion for consumers.

Awaiting for European Council and Council of Ministers

The dossier could reach the next Council of Ministers, but so far the ministries have not been alerted for a meeting this week. It is therefore possible that the decision will slip. Also because the government continues to monitor the effects of the crisis. Another expected step is the European Council on Thursday, from which a common line to contain energy prices could emerge. Tajani does not rule out a review of excise duties, but urges caution: first we need to understand the duration and extent of the crisis.

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