Contribution and tax relief introduced by the budget law and extension of remote working for vulnerable persons

On 29 December 2022, Italian Law No 197/2022, entitled ‘State budget for the financial year 2023 and multi-year budget for the three-year period 2023-2025’ (‘Bilancio di previsione dello Stato per l’anno finanziario 2023 e bilancio pluriennale per il triennio 2023-2025’ – hereinafter ‘Budget Law’) was published in the Italian Official Gazette.

The above-mentioned legislation, among the various measures, introduced some contribution exemptions for the year 2023. In particular, employers who in 2023 hire workers under the age of 36 under a permanent employment contract will be able to benefit from total exemption from social security contributions up to a maximum amount of EUR 8,000 for a maximum period of 36 months. This exemption is also granted for fixed-term contracts which are converted into permanent contracts in the same year. The relief in question is granted (and this is new) also in the case of employment of persons who receive ‘citizenship income’ (‘reddito di cittadinanza’).

In addition, the above-mentioned contribution benefit is guaranteed if the permanent contract (or the contract that is converted into a permanent contract) concerns female workers who, regardless of age, have been (i) unemployed for at least 24 months or (ii) unemployed for at least six months if they are resident in ‘disadvantaged’ (‘svantaggiate’) areas.

The reliefs introduced do not only concern social security contributions but also those relating to tax. On this point, in fact, the Budget Law reduces the tax rate on ‘productivity bonuses’ (‘premi di produttività’) which goes from 10% to 5% up to a maximum amount of EUR 3,000. The tax relief therefore applies to performance bonuses of variable amounts whose payment is linked to increases in productivity, profitability, quality, efficiency and innovation, as defined in the context of a corporate or territorial collective agreement. This relief applies to those who in the previous year have earned employee income not exceeding EUR 80,000.

Finally, the Budget Law extended until 31 March 2023 the right for ‘vulnerable’ (‘fragili’) workers to work through remote working. For the other categories of workers, on the other hand, remote working is permitted only after signing an individual agreement between the employer and the employee under Articles 18 et seq. of Italian Law No 81 of 22 May 2017.