Tax payers are being called to donate five euro for every thousand from their personal
income tax to benefit charitable organisations around the country. Citizens can choose from tens of thousands of charities and associations, which have been divided into four categories. The first is comprised of volunteer organisations and socially benefi cial services. Thousands of organisations fall into this category, making it the largest and most varied. It includes everything from a
volunteer organisation for stray cats, Confraternities of the Misericordia, archaeological associations, Avis blood-donors, The Friends of Bolivia in Siena and many others. The second
category includes groups dedicated to scientific research and universities; the third focuses on health services and the fourth category deals with local service initiatives that have been organised
and sponsored by city municipalities. If citizens fail to specify a choice, this percentage of their income tax will benefit the Italian government.
So, every group wants a piece of the pie, but it’s a modestly sized pie. Five per thousand is only about 5 million euro. Within Tuscany, the associations dedicated to scientifi c research and university studies alone add up to more than 30 million euro. Florentine accountant Nicola Rabaglietti explains, ‘The important thing is to make sure that you choose an association that is recognised by the internal revenues services, otherwise the contribution will not arrive at its destination.’
A recent law allows tax-payers to write donations to charity organisations that equal up to 10% of their annual income, but that do not exceed 70 thousand euro per year.
