Italy's INPS deadline set for employer hiring bonuses on 30 September 2026
The Italian government, via the Decreto Coesione, has established a deadline of 30 September 2026 for employers to apply for three contribution‑relief bonuses administered by INPS. The measures target new permanent contracts or the conversion of temporary contracts signed between 1 September 2024 and 31 December 2025.
The “bonus giovani” offers a reduction of up to €500 per month in employer social‑security contributions, rising to €650 for companies located in the Zona Economica Speciale (ZES) covering several southern regions. A separate “bonus donne” provides a 100 % exemption of up to €650 per month for disadvantaged women hired permanently in the same period. The ZES bonus grants a full contribution exemption of up to €650 per month for any employer operating in the designated special‑economic zones.
Applications must be submitted online through INPS’s portal using the official form; after the September 2026 cut‑off, no further requests will be accepted, although contracts signed later may be eligible under a different decree. The programme aims to boost stable employment, especially in the less‑developed southern areas of Italy.
Entities: Decreto Coesione · INPS · Italian Government · Italian Ministry of Labour · Zona Economica Speciale (ZES)
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The young‑worker bonus provides a contribution reduction of up to €500 per month, increasing to €650 in the ZES. (d22c6a79-05bd-42eb-a8c4-8d5380777375, 7158f9be-fe94-4a9b-85b3-added5f5d43d, 21581eed-4a24-438f-a56e-4c46bc7e6671)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The bonuses apply to permanent contracts signed between 1 September 2024 and 31 December 2025. (d22c6a79-05bd-42eb-a8c4-8d5380777375, 7158f9be-fe94-4a9b-85b3-added5f5d43d, 21581eed-4a24-438f-a56e-4c46bc7e6671)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The deadline to submit applications for the employer bonuses is 30 September 2026. (d22c6a79-05bd-42eb-a8c4-8d5380777375, 7158f9be-fe94-4a9b-85b3-added5f5d43d, 21581eed-4a24-438f-a56e-4c46bc7e6671)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] After 30 September 2026, new applications will no longer be accepted, though later contracts may be covered by a separate decree. (21581eed-4a24-438f-a56e-4c46bc7e6671)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The women’s bonus offers a 100 % contribution exemption of up to €650 per month for disadvantaged women hired permanently in the same period. (21581eed-4a24-438f-a56e-4c46bc7e6671)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The programme aims to increase stable permanent employment, especially in the less‑developed southern regions of Italy. (21581eed-4a24-438f-a56e-4c46bc7e6671, d22c6a79-05bd-42eb-a8c4-8d5380777375)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Employers must submit applications online through INPS’s website using the official form. (d22c6a79-05bd-42eb-a8c4-8d5380777375, 7158f9be-fe94-4a9b-85b3-added5f5d43d, 21581eed-4a24-438f-a56e-4c46bc7e6671)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The ZES bonus grants a 100 % contribution exemption of up to €650 per month for employers operating in the special economic zones. (d22c6a79-05bd-42eb-a8c4-8d5380777375, 7158f9be-fe94-4a9b-85b3-added5f5d43d, 21581eed-4a24-438f-a56e-4c46bc7e6671)