# Italian tax burden and revenue distribution > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/italian-tax-burden-and-revenue-distribution > Updated: 2026-09-26T16:41:42.000Z. Sources: 47. Developments: 3. Recent analyses of the Italian tax system highlight the structure and concentration of the national tax burden. An investigation by the Cgia research office found that 95.7% of taxes and contributions paid by employees are ‘invisible’ to the taxpayer, as they are either automatically deducted from payroll or embedded in the prices of goods. For a typical Italian family, the annual tax burden is estimated at 20,592 euros, with only 4.3% paid through direct, conscious methods. Data regarding tax declarations reveals a high concentration of personal income tax (Irpef) revenue. While 42.8 million people filed returns, approximately 24.8 million residents do not appear to pay Irpef. An observatory by Itinerari Previdenziali confirms this disparity, noting that less than 19% of taxpayers are responsible for approximately 65% of total Irpef revenue. This heavy load falls primarily on middle-income earners, specifically managers, officials, and professionals earning gross annual incomes above 35,000 euros. Further studies by Itinerari Previdenziali regarding 2024 income declarations specify that a group representing 16.46% of taxpayers contributes over 63% of total Irpef. More recent data indicates that approximately 30% of taxpayers bear 79% of the Irpef burden, primarily those earning over 35,000 euros annually. Regarding social welfare measures for 2026-2027, the Italian government has released operational details for the ‘Carta Dedicata a te’ program. Designed to assist low-income families with essential food purchases, the program targets households with an ISEE below 15,000 euros. The Ministry of Agriculture has allocated 1,177,597 cards, with beneficiaries selected via municipal ranking systems. The benefit is distributed in two annual installments of 500 euros. The first installment for 2026 is scheduled to activate via Poste Italiane cards starting November 4, 2026, and must be used by December 16, 2026, to remain valid. The second installment for 2027 is expected in April 2027. ## Claims - An analysis by Itinerari Previdenziali examined 2025 tax declarations regarding 2024 income. (corroborated by 18 sources) - Approximately 8 million taxpayers earning 35,000 euros gross annually contribute 65% of all personal income tax. (corroborated by 16 sources) - About 24.8 million residents in Italy do not appear to pay Irpef. (corroborated by 12 sources) - Approximately 42.8 million people filed tax returns, but only 34.1 million paid at least one euro in Irpef. (corroborated by 11 sources) - Total declared income reached 1,076 billion euros, resulting in a total tax revenue of 216.24 billion euros. (corroborated by 11 sources) - 7.9 million taxpayers declare up to 7,500 euros gross per year. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Approximately 30.22% of taxpayers are responsible for 78.67% of the total Irpef revenue. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Social assistance spending funded by general taxation increased from 73 billion euros in 2008 to 180 billion euros in 2024. (corroborated by 2 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-26: Italy launches 2026-2027 ‘Carta Dedicata a te’ social card details Italy is rolling out the 2026-2027 ‘Carta Dedicata a te’ social card, providing 500 euros annually to low-income families with an ISEE under 15,000 euros for essential food purchases. 17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italy-tax-report-shows-high-concentration-of-tax-burden ### 2026-09-24: Italy tax burden concentrated on minority of taxpayers A report by Itinerari Previdenziali shows that 8 million Italian taxpayers earning 35,000 euros gross annually contribute 65% of all Irpef revenue, while 24.8 million residents pay little to no direct income's. 29 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italy-irpef-tax-data-shows-high-concentration-of-tax-burden ### 2026-08-29: Cgia analysis: 95.7% of Italian employee taxes are ‘invisible’ A Cgia study shows that 95.7% of taxes paid by Italian employees are ‘invisible,’ collected via automatic payroll deductions or embedded in consumer prices like VAT and fuel excises. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cgia-analysis-957-of-italian-employee-taxes-are-invisible --- Cite as: Italian tax burden and revenue distribution. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/italian-tax-burden-and-revenue-distribution