Italy’s digital economy expands to €84.4 bn while tax audits surge with AI tools

The 2025 Italian digital market grew 3.4% to €84.4 billion, outpacing national GDP growth. ICT services led the rise, reaching €18.8 billion driven by artificial‑intelligence, cybersecurity and cloud solutions. The sector’s expansion is seen as a strategic lever for competitiveness, productivity and security.

In parallel, the Italian tax authority reported a record 223,000 fiscal audits in 2026, an 18% increase over the prior year. More than one‑tenth of the checks targeted VAT‑registered businesses. The agency is intensifying risk‑based selections and using artificial‑intelligence‑supported data analysis to cross‑check bank information, electronic invoicing and other sources. The strategy aims to focus resources on high‑risk taxpayers while reducing unnecessary scrutiny of compliant entities.

Separately, Italy’s unilateral “web tax” on digital services collected €637 million in 2025, 40% higher than the previous year and far surpassing the revenue from the OECD‑backed global minimum tax, which generated only €46 million.