One flat tax instead of IRPEF15% / 5%
The flat-rate scheme (regime forfettario) is a simplified regime for the self-employed. Instead of progressive IRPEF plus the regional and municipal surtaxes, it charges a single substitute tax — 15% as standard, or 5% for a genuine new activity in its first five years.
The tax is not charged on your accounting profit. It falls on a lump-sum base: your revenue multiplied by a profitability coefficient set for your line of work, and then reduced by the social-security contributions you pay. That is why the scheme can be simple to run but hard to compare with employment line by line.
Profitability coefficients by activity
The coefficient decides how much of your revenue becomes taxable income. It is fixed by activity group (ATECO codes), from lighter trading margins to near-full professional income:
| Activity group | ATECO | Coefficient |
|---|---|---|
| Food and beverage manufacturing | 10-11 | 40% |
| Wholesale and retail trade | 45,46.2-46.9,47.1-47.7,47.9 | 40% |
| Street trading of food | 47.81 | 40% |
| Street trading of other goods | 47.82-47.89 | 54% |
| Construction and real estate | 41-43,68 | 86% |
| Trade intermediaries | 46.1 | 62% |
| Accommodation and food service | 55-56 | 40% |
| Professional and scientific activities | 64-66,69-75,85,86-88 | 78% |
| Other economic activities | 01-03,05-09,12-33,35,36-39,49-53,58-63,77-82,84,90-96,97-98,99 | 67% |
