Italy tax authorities launch verification of journalists' 2020 freelance income amid broader wage stagnation concerns

The Istituto Nazionale di Previdenza per i Giornalisti (INPGI) is contacting journalists to verify income earned from autonomous work in 2020. Recipients must complete an online procedure by 30 November 2026 using SPID or a Carta d’Identità Elettronica, declaring whether the reported earnings relate to freelance journalism and uploading any required documentation. Communications sent by email, PEC or other channels will not be accepted, and technical assistance is available via a dedicated email address and a phone line.

A parliamentary Office of Budget study released in July highlights a long‑term decline in real gross wages in Italy, with average full‑time earnings falling 1.6 % between 1990 and 2024, while other advanced economies saw growth. The report notes a sharp rise in part‑time employment—from 4.4 % of the sample in 1990 to 31.5 % in 2018—contributing to lower average annual wages and greater dispersion. The study calls for comprehensive tax‑system reforms, noting that the current system has shifted from “lower taxes for all” to “lower taxes for few,” especially as the government targets allocating 5 % of GDP to rearmament.