Official organisations are unlikely to take your word for it when you share your earnings amount. So, you must know how to prove income as an expat in Italy. And you’re just one article away from it!
Why should I prove income?
Documents for employees
Documents for self-employed expats
5 things to know
Advice from expats: How to send money from Italy
Why should I prove income?
Income verification in Italy will be handy for:
- Rental application in Italy. Some landlords may ask you to prove income so they can be sure of your financial stability. It’s not a must, but landlords have all the right to check whether you can pay them monthly.
- Banking. Proving income is required if you request a credit card or apply for a loan or mortgage. Banks are strict with the money they give away, and you must possess enough funds to pay back.
- Loan and funding. Once you decide to finance your startup, you’ll also need to show income in Italy to the organisations that provide funding.
- Private insurance. It’s not obligatory, but some providers ask for financial documents in Italy.
- Visa purposes. Applying, renewing, and getting the visa for trips outside of the EU—in every case, you’ll need proof of income in Italy.
- Sending large sums of money. Imagine that you’re about to buy a car or a house in your home country. Then, you’ll need to transfer a huge amount of money to your local account. To do so, banks and online services will require financial documents to ensure you’re not involved in any fraudulent activity and that money belongs entirely to you. You’re fine without any proof for smaller transfers—they’ll go fast and smoothly, especially if you use Profee.
Proof of funds in Italy is a document that you must have because otherwise, you may end up without your dream flat, a credit card and health insurance. Now, let’s see how to prove income in Italy; scroll down a bit!
How to prove income: Documents for employees
Various documents are qualified as proof of income in Italy, and you can choose any. But hear out our secret technique—collect several different pieces and present them all to your landlord or a bank. This will increase your credibility in their eyes,and it's just what we need.
Certificazione Unica (CU)
It’s a document that you must receive yearly as an employee. It shows how much you’ve earned and what taxes were paid, including income tax in Italy, regional tax, social security contributions and others. If you had two employers or quit your job and registered for unemployment at the INPS, you’ll receive two CUs. Note that to get one from the INPS, you must apply for SPID first.
Overall, CU is a universal expat’s document for many needs. It’s official and highlights your income and taxes—simple yet perfect.
Bank statements in Italy
Bank statements are totally different from your salary certificates or proof of paying income tax in Italy. They show your day-to-day operations: how much is deposited, what your regular expenses are, and the amount of savings you have. Landlords and banks love this tool for proving income because it reveals your true financial situation and behaviours.
However, don’t share any sensitive information, such as your banking details. Issuing documents is enough, so those who persist too much may want to scam you.
Explore: Public transport in Italy.
Employment contract (Contratto di lavoro)
To start working officially in Italy, you must sign a contract. It includes salary, job title, and more details about your current position. It can be both fixed-term or permanent, each will count for proving income. But this document may not have enough persuasive power alone, so get it together with payslips.
Payslips (Buste paga)
Buste paga is your Italian paycheck. You receive it at the end of each month, and the idea is quite similar to CU. Payslips include total salary, pensions, income tax in Italy and other deductions.
The difference is that it’s a monthly document, not an annual summary.
Landlords usually ask for this type of proof because it’s recent and up-to-date.
Tax return (Modello 730 or Modello Redditi)
If you file a tax return in Italy yourself, it may also count in some cases.
Modello 730 is a form where you can submit your income information and check whether you have to pay any taxes or not (for example, income tax in Italy). “Income” means everything you’ve earned from salary, social benefits and property.
Modello Redditi is a more complex version of 730 made for those with business, self-employment or capital income. You can read more about the differences in this article.
These are the main documents that are widely accepted. Remember that the best strategy is to gather several of them, so in case one is declined, the other comes to the rescue. This was a part for employees, but how to prove income if you’re self-employed?
How to prove income: Documents for self-employed expats
The logic in the suitable documents is the same—you should convince the authorities that you have work and a stable income.
Tax returns (Modello Redditi)
As someone with no boss, you should declare income and VAT statements yourself. Once you do it, tax return submission documents will become one of your strongest income proofs. Use it freely.
Tax payment receipts (F24 forms)
Tax receipts are another way to show your ongoing working process through taxes in Italy. Once you pay to regional or national governmental departments, keep the most recent documents and show them to landlords or banks. Speaking of which…
Bank statements
Use statements from your bank to show that you’re being paid on a regular (or not so regular) basis by clients. If you don’t have a business account, the personal one will work, too.
Confirmations that your business is active Visura Camerale, Partita IVA Registration Certificate, INPS Contribution Statements or anything else that has your business name on it and has not expired may count as proof of income. However, tax returns and bank statements are more commonly used because they contain a more detailed description of your financial situation.
Seems like we covered the main options. If you’re unsure whether certain documents are accepted, contact the one who requires them directly—they should tell you how to prove income.
Read more: Apps and services for living in Italy.
How to prove income in Italy: 5 things to know
Language
Translate your documents into Italian, just in case. Sometimes, English versions from international corporations are accepted, but it’s an exception, not a rule.
If you have multiple sources of income
Provide financial statements for each of them. But for a landlord, for example, your salary may be enough as long as it’s bigger than the rent price.
Type of employment matters
Employees typically show payslips (buste paga), work contracts, and the annual CU (Certificazione Unica). Freelancers and self-employed workers should use tax returns, F24 payment receipts, and certified invoices.
Consistency over time is key
Italian banks and landlords prefer to see stable income over at least 3–6 months. Sporadic or irregular income can raise questions, especially for rental or mortgage applications.
Tax documents carry weight
For any job type, your tax return (Modello 730 or Redditi PF) is one of the strongest proof-of-income documents in Italy. It confirms both gross and net income and is often required for loans, rent, or subsidies.
How to send money from Italy smartly
In Italy, expats’ finance plans often include transfers back home. Self-employed and entrepreneurs invest and deal with clients, while regular workers buy assets and support their loved ones.
As a migrant, you can struggle with banks and crypto, do nothing at all and give up or choose a reliable online service Profee. It doesn’t let your money sway away. Profee offers unmatched exchange rates and low fees, so your transfers are as beneficial as possible.
- It’s simple to use. Registration is completed in minutes, the interface is chef’s kiss, and the process is crystal clear.
- Avoid paperwork. You don’t need any proof of financial support or income letters from Italy for regular transfers. So you can send a gift to your family without extra effort. For larger sums, you'll need to quickly proof income—our customer support will ensure it goes smoothly and doesn't take too long.
- It’s safe. Profee is a licensed service which follows PCI DSS regulations and strict international security standards. If it doesn’t tell you a thing, maybe successful transfers of thousands of expats will be a more reliable source.
What about trying it out today? Go to profee.com or download our app and enjoy smart transfers.
