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Tax guidelines and regulations for large money transfers into Italy

Both you and your recipient may be required to file tax forms.

Both Italy and the US require large gifts to be declared — but the US places responsibility on the donor and Italy places responsibility on the donee. This means that both you and your recipient may need to declare large gifts, even if you aren’t both required to pay.

How Italy regulates large remittances

Italy taxes monetary gifts or donations, though the exact amount depends on your relationship to the recipient.

  • Spouse, parent or child. Any amount over €1 million will be taxed at 4%.
  • Sibling. Any amount over €100,000 will be taxed at 6%.
  • Other relatives. The full gift will be taxed at 6%.
  • Non-relatives. The full gift will be taxed at 8%.

Required forms

The tax will need to be paid by your recipient, and they’ll need to fill out an F23 form. It can be filed at any bank or post office.

What are the penalties in Italy if my recipient fails to file?

Failure to file taxes can result in penalties that range from 120% to 240% of the taxes due. To avoid severe penalties that can reverberate throughout your financial future, speak with a professional to guarantee that you comply with the laws of both the US and Italy.

Do I have to report large transfers out of the US?

Generally, yes — though it depends on how much you’re sending and for what purpose. Gifts over $17,000, business transactions over $10,000 and any foreign account in your name that’s held more than $10,000 in the last year will need to be reported to the IRS.

By law, banks report cash transactions that exceed $10,000 and any transaction of any amount that raises an eyebrow. And independent money transfer specialists are sometimes held to thresholds as low as $1,000.

Sending a lot of money out of the country? Know what the IRS expects of you.

How much money can I send to Italy?

As much as you want — there isn’t a legal cap on how much money you can send to Italy. Some transfer providers will set their own limits, so if you’re planning a large transfer, use a limit-free provider like Xe.

How will my recipient in Italy get the money?

How your recipient receives your money in Italy depends on your provider and how you sent it. You’ll typically have the option of bank-to-bank transfers, cash pickups or delivery to a mobile wallet.

To receive your funds in person, your recipient may need to provide ID or a confirmation number.

How to send money to Italy

Bottom line

Italy is a country that taxes gifts, which means if you’re sending any amount to someone who isn’t a spouse, parent, child or sibling, they’ll need to pay taxes on it.

As with all international money transfers, be wary of potential fraud and only send money to people you know. Using a reputable provider can safeguard you from potential scams.

Frequently asked questions

Whether products shown are available to you is subject to individual provider sole approval and discretion in accordance with the eligibility criteria and T&Cs on the provider website.

Name Product Filter Values Fastest Transfer Speed Fees (Pay by Bank Transfer)
OFX International Money Transfers (Business)
24 hours
$0
Business customers: Send safe, no-limit transfers with no fees and competitive exchange rates.
Xe
Within minutes
From $0
Xe has fast transfers with low fees and a range of foreign currency tools.
MoneyGram
Within minutes
From $0
MoneyGram has fast cash pick-up transfers to more than 350,000 agent locations worldwide.
Instarem
24 hours
From 0%
New Instarem customers will get a special FX rate and zero-fees on their first transfer.
Instarem offers offers rewards on every transaction.
Xe Money Transfer for Business
24 hours
$0
Save your time and money with Xe Money Transfer for business.
Remitly
Within minutes
From $0
Remitly has quick, affordable transfers around the world, with both express and economy options.
CurrencyTransfer
24 hours
$0
CurrencyTransfer lets you shop around for the best exchange rate on its online marketplace.
WorldRemit - 4free
Within minutes
From $0.99
Use promo code 3FREE and pay no fees on your first 3 transfers. Conditions apply.
WorldRemit sends money to 110+ countries for bank-to-bank deposits, cash pick-ups or mobile top-ups.
OFX
24 hours
$0
OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 45+ currencies.
PayPal (business)
Within minutes
$0
Provides business solutions for small business owners in over 24 currencies worldwide. Try 3 months free of Spotify Premium when you sign up with PayPal.
Wise (TransferWise) International Money Transfers Business
Within minutes
From $8.16
Enjoy high maximum transfers into more than 40 currencies, while saving up to 90% over local banks.
Wise (TransferWise)
Within minutes
From 0.41%
Wise uses the mid-market rate and transparent fees to help you send money in 50+ currencies.
Wise (TransferWise)
Within minutes
From 0.41%
Wise uses the mid-market rate and transparent fees to help you send money in 50+ currencies.
CurrencyTransfer for Business
24 hours
$0
Increase business efficiency with zero transaction fees and same-day transfers.
WorldRemit
Within minutes
From $0.99
Use promo code 3FREE and pay no fees on your first 3 transfers. Conditions apply.
WorldRemit sends money to 110+ countries for bank-to-bank deposits, cash pick-ups or mobile top-ups.
CurrencyFair
24 hours
€3
CurrencyFair has bank-beating exchange rates and fast transfer times on 15+ popular currencies.
OFX
24 hours
$0
OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 45+ currencies.
CurrencyFair
24 hours
€3
CurrencyFair has bank-beating exchange rates and fast transfer times on 15+ popular currencies.
Remitly
Within minutes
From $0
Special offers like free transfers and better exchange rates available for new customers.
Remitly has quick, affordable transfers around the world, with both express and economy options.
Remitly
Within minutes
From $0
Special offers like free transfers and better exchange rates available for new customers.
Remitly has quick, affordable transfers around the world, with both express and economy options.
Remitly
Within minutes
From $0
Special offers like free transfers and better exchange rates available for new customers.
Remitly has quick, affordable transfers around the world, with both express and economy options.
PayPal
Within minutes
From $0
Use PayPal to safely send money and receive payments from around the world in over 25 currencies with just an email address or mobile number. Try 3 months free of Spotify Premium when you sign up with PayPal.
Xe
Within minutes
$3
Xe has fast transfers with low fees and a range of foreign currency tools.
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Editor

Leah Fallon is a freelance journalist and editor, specializing in personal finance and small business. She owns Birch Tree Bookstore in Leesburg, Virginia. See full bio

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