Italian tourist tax enforcement expands

In early August 2026 the Caserta municipality announced a raise in the local tourist accommodation tax effective 1 September. The increase, imposed by extraordinary commissioners without consulting the hospitality sector, prompted Federalberghi and local hoteliers to protest, warning of added administrative burdens and reduced net revenue due to further taxation of the levy. They called for strict, territory‑wide inspections to ensure compliance and to prevent non‑paying operators from gaining an advantage.

A few days later, Caserta intensified enforcement, deploying the Paytourist app to cross‑check guest data with police records and imposing fines of €500‑€5,000 on establishments that failed to register or display the required national identification code (CIN). Simultaneously, the nearby city of Riccione conducted its own checks on short‑term rentals, issuing warnings and fines for missing CIN displays and operating without proper permits. Both municipalities said recovered revenues would fund tourism promotion and urban‑improvement projects, illustrating a shift from protest over a tax hike to active, technology‑driven enforcement across multiple Italian cities.

Police inspections on 4 August broadened the crackdown to several other municipalities. In Cesano Maderno owners were fined €8,000 for housing eight people in a sub‑40 m² apartment without reporting the accommodation under immigration law. In Riccione a hotel was found to host 90 guests despite a declared capacity of 36, prompting 13 administrative warnings, seven fines and six criminal complaints, as well as concerns over unsafe, non‑fire‑rated mattresses. Rimini’s police inspected 27 short‑term rentals, issuing five formal warnings and at least one fine for operating without the mandatory CIN and proper registration. These coordinated actions underscore a wider effort by Italian local authorities to enforce housing and tourism regulations, protect public safety and secure municipal revenues.