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How to form a company in Italy from India

Set up an SRL in five moves: tax codes for every owner and director, Form FC with your Indian bank, a seat and PEC address, the capital payment, and a deed signed before an Italian notary. The notary files it with the Registro delle Imprese, which normally registers the company within days. Allow about six weeks in all.

Usual form
SRL
Capital
From €1
Signed at
Italian notary
Registered by
Registro Imprese
Corporate tax
24% plus IRAP
Journey time
About 6 weeks

Dr. Anil GuptaGlobal Expansion Advisor · Updated October 2026

Company types

Five ways to be in Italy, feature by feature

Three are Italian companies; two are extensions of your Indian company. The highlighted column is the one most Indian founders choose.

FeatureSRLSocietà a responsabilità limitataSRLSSRL semplificataSpASocietà per azioniBranchSede secondariaRep officeUfficio di rappresentanza
Indian company can own it✓✕individuals only✓✓it is the company✓it is the company
Separate legal person✓✓✓✕✕
Liability stays in Italy✓✓✓✕parent liable✕parent liable
Can sell and invoice✓✓✓✓✕promotion only
Minimum capital€1or €10,000 standard€1up to €9,999.99€50,00025% at signingNoneNone
Articles can be tailored✓✕fixed model✓n/an/a
Notary deed needed✓✓fee waived✓✓✕REA entry
Usual fitMostIndian subsidiariesSmallsolo foundersLargegroups, listingsProjectrun from IndiaTestmarket study
SRL with €1 to €9,999.99Paid in full and in cash; a fifth of yearly profit goes to reserves until they reach €10,000.
SRL with €10,000 or moreA quarter is paid at signing and the rest when the directors call it.
Formation steps

Six weeks, nine overlapping steps

The bars show when each step usually runs. Several run side by side in the first three weeks, which is why starting them together saves the most time.

Step
Week 1Week 2Week 3Week 4Week 5Week 6
1

Choose the form and draft the statuto

Decide SRL or SRLS, quotaholders, directors and capital, and agree the draft with the notary.

Plan
2

Codice fiscale for every person

Each foreign quotaholder and director needs an Italian tax code before the deed.

Tax office
3

Form FC and the UIN

Your authorised dealer bank files the ODI and issues the UIN before money leaves India.

India
4

Apostille and translate Indian records

Corporate papers and any power of attorney are apostilled in India, then translated into Italian.

India
5

Registered address and PEC boxes

Fix the Italian seat and open certified email boxes for the company and every director.

Company
6

Pay in the capital

Transfer a quarter of the capital, or all of it below €10,000, in the form the notary asks for.

Bank
7

Sign the deed

The atto costitutivo and statuto are executed in Italian before the notary, in person, by proxy or by video.

Notary
8

ComUnica filing and registration

The notary files within 20 days; the same filing opens the VAT number and social security positions.

Registry
9

Bank, invoicing and start

Open the operating account, connect electronic invoicing and file any activity notice with the SUAP.

Start
Founder and Italian sideIndian sideNotary and registry
Team discussing a business dashboard on a monitor
20 days

The notary's filing deadline

After the signing, the notary must file the deed with the Registro delle Imprese within 20 days. In practice it is often done the same week, and the VAT number arrives through the same ComUnica filing.

Documents

What the notary will ask you for

Collect these before you book the deed. Anything issued in India needs an apostille and an Italian translation.

Accounting team reviewing documents with a calculator
Ask for the draft first. Request the draft deed and the notary's own document list before anything is apostilled; requirements vary slightly between notaries.

Every quotaholder and director

  • PassportOriginal at signing
  • Codice fiscaleIssued in Italy
  • PEC addressDirectors since 2025
  • Residential addressTranslation if asked

An Indian parent company

  • Certificate of incorporationApostille
  • MoA and AoAApostille
  • Board resolution and signatoryApostille
  • Italian translationsSworn or consular

The new company

  • Power of attorney if nobody travelsNotarised and apostilled
  • Registered seat and company PECBefore the deed
  • Capital payment proofAt the deed
  • ATECO activity codeFor ComUnica
Resident vs non resident founders

Two founders, two journeys

The SRL is identical either way. Living in India adds steps before the deed and filings in India after it.

Founder living in Italy

The short path

0extra steps
  1. Get the codice fiscaleSame day at an Agenzia delle Entrate office.
  2. Sign the deedWalk into the notary's office with your ID.
  3. Open PEC boxesFor the company and each director.
  4. Open the bank accountBranch visit with your residence documents.
  5. Register the activityComUnica and any SUAP notice.
  6. Start tradingYour residence permit already lets you work.
Founder living in India

The longer path

5extra steps
  1. Get the codice fiscaleThrough the consulate, a proxy or the notary.
  2. Legalise your recordsApostille in India and an Italian translation.
  3. Sign the deedFly in once, grant a power of attorney, or use a video notary.
  4. Open the bank accountVideo identification and source of funds review.
  5. Report to IndiaForm FC and UIN, then APR by 31 December and FLA by 15 July.
  6. Live in Italy only with a visaItalia Startup Visa or an investor visa if you move.
Entry routes

Find your route in three answers

Answer the questions on the left and the card on the right shows the structure that fits. All three routes are explained below the finder as well.

1Will you sell or sign contracts in Italy?

2Should Italian risks stay out of your Indian company?

3Can someone travel to Italy for the signing?

Separate companySRL subsidiaryIts own capital and directors; risk stays in Italy. The route most Indian groups take.
Part of the parentSede secondariaA branch in the Registro delle Imprese with a local representative; the parent is liable.
No tradingUfficio di rappresentanzaA representative office on the REA for promotion and research only.
Ways to sign:In person with an interpreterPower of attorney from IndiaOnline deed by video
Practical problems

Where the timeline slips, and the fix

Each problem is tagged with the step in the timeline where it usually bites.

Step2

The tax code takes weeks to arrive

The notary cannot prepare the deed for anyone without a codice fiscale.

Fix

Apply for every person in week one, through the consulate or a proxy in Italy.

Step4

A translation is not accepted

Notaries refuse plain translations of Indian corporate papers.

Fix

Use a sworn translation in Italy or one certified by the Italian consulate.

Step5

A director has no PEC address

Since 2025 every director needs certified email, and the registry rejects the filing without it.

Fix

Open PEC boxes for each director before booking the notary.

Step6

The capital goes to the wrong place

Money sent before the notary confirms the method can delay the signing.

Fix

Wait for the notary's written instructions and keep the transfer proof.

Step7

Nobody at the signing speaks Italian

The deed is read in Italian; a party who cannot follow it needs an interpreter.

Fix

Book a sworn interpreter, or sign through an Italian attorney under a power of attorney.

Step9

IRAP surprises the first year

IRAP is charged on the value of production, so it can be due even when profit is small.

Fix

Budget IRES and IRAP separately; see our Italy tax guide.

Costs, timing and ongoing duties

The bill, the tax and the year ahead

The notary is most of the formation cost. After that, two corporate taxes and a busy filing calendar shape the year.

Standard SRL formation costTypical 2026 figures, notary fee at the middle of its range

83%is the notary
  • Notary fee, mid range€1,500 to €3,000
  • Registration tax€200
  • Stamp dutyabout €156
  • Chamber chargesabout €90
Typical total€2,100 to €3,600

Two taxes on one company

  • 24%IRESCorporate tax on profit; 20% for 2025 and 2026 under reinvestment and hiring conditions
  • 3.9%IRAPRegional tax on the value of production, so it can apply in a low profit year
  • 22%VATStandard rate, invoiced electronically
  • 15% or 25%to IndiaTreaty withholding on dividends
Analyst reviewing a business report on paper and a laptop
Twelve months of dutiesFor a calendar year SRL, Italy and India together

Jan

16th monthly: VAT settled for monthly filers

Feb

Payroll: prepare yearly staff certificates

Mar

16 March: staff certificates issued

16 March: fourth quarter VAT for quarterly filers

Apr

30 April: annual VAT return

120 days: accounts approved

May

Within 30 days: accounts filed

16 May: first quarter VAT

Jun

30 June: tax balance and first advance

30 June: chamber fee

Jul

15 July: FLA return to the RBI

Aug

20 August: second quarter VAT; early August payments shift to this date

Sep

Prepare: data for the October returns

Oct

31 October: IRES and IRAP returns

Nov

16 November: third quarter VAT

30 November: second tax advance

Dec

27 December: VAT advance

31 December: APR in India

Every invoiceItalian business invoices are sent and received in a set electronic format through the Sistema di Interscambio, so choose compliant software from day one.

Sources checked October 2026: Registro Imprese, Agenzia delle Entrate, Consiglio Nazionale del Notariato and the Reserve Bank of India.

Comply Globally in Italy

One team for the Indian and Italian paperwork

₹55,000starting price for an SRL

Codici fiscali, apostilles, translations, PEC boxes and Form FC, coordinated with your Italian notary through to the visura. More on our Italy company setup page.

Business owner reviewing an analytics dashboard on a laptop
Frequently asked questions

Italy questions, answered by topic

Pick a topic from the list. The last button shows all 38 questions.

Getting started

Can a company be registered in Italy entirely from India?

Yes. With a power of attorney, apostilled documents and a codice fiscale for each person, an Italian notary can complete the deed without you travelling.

Which entity suits most Indian founders?

An SRL. It accepts an Indian company or individuals as quotaholders, limits liability to the company and lets the statuto be written around your control needs.

Is there a residence or nationality test for owners?

No residence test. For non EU citizens living outside Italy the notary checks reciprocity, and India meets that condition.

How long should I plan for?

Around six weeks from the first call to trading. The registry often completes within days of the filing; the slow parts are tax codes, apostilles and translations.

What proves the company exists?

The visura camerale, the official chamber of commerce extract. It lists the company's number, seat, capital, directors and status.

Does Italy protect Indian investments by treaty?

The India Italy bilateral investment treaty has not been in force since 2017. Protection now comes from Italian and EU law and from careful contracts and articles.

SRL, SRLS and SpA

What exactly is a €1 SRL?

An SRL with capital between €1 and €9,999.99. The capital must be paid in full and in cash, and a fifth of each year's profit is set aside until reserves reach €10,000.

What changes with €10,000 or more of capital?

Only a quarter has to be paid when the deed is signed, and the company looks stronger to banks and suppliers from the first day.

Can my Indian company own an SRLS?

No. Only individuals can be quotaholders of an SRLS, and its model articles cannot be changed. An Indian parent uses an ordinary SRL.

When does an SpA make sense?

When the business needs €50,000 or more of capital, freely transferable shares and a formal board with statutory auditors, usually for larger groups.

What liability does a sole quotaholder carry?

Limited, as long as the capital is fully paid and the sole quotaholder is disclosed to the registry. If either is missing, the owner can become personally liable.

Is a branch cheaper than an SRL?

It needs no capital, but it is not a separate company. The Indian parent answers for all Italian debts and must keep Italian books for the branch.

Living in India

How do I get a codice fiscale without visiting Italy?

Apply through the Italian embassy or a consulate in India, appoint a proxy at the Agenzia delle Entrate, or ask the notary to request it.

Can the only director live in India?

Yes. There is no Italian residence rule for directors, but each director needs a codice fiscale and, since 2025, a PEC address.

Can I sign the deed by video?

Italian notaries can form an SRL online by video, provided you hold a digital identity and signature the notary can verify. Most Indian founders use a power of attorney instead.

Does owning the company let me work in Italy?

No. You need a visa. The Italia Startup Visa for innovative startups requires at least €50,000 of available funding; see our Italy visa comparison.

What is the order of Indian filings?

Form FC through your authorised dealer bank and the UIN come first. After that, the Annual Performance Report is due by 31 December and the FLA return by 15 July each year.

How much can an individual invest under the LRS?

Up to USD 250,000 per financial year. TCS applies to remittances above ₹10 lakh and can be adjusted against your income tax.

Will Italian banks onboard a company owned from India?

Yes, with a thorough review of ownership and funds. Our Italy bank account guide compares UniCredit, Intesa and others.

Notary and documents

What does the notary actually do?

Checks identities, capital and legality, drafts the public deed, reads it to the parties in Italian and files it with the Registro delle Imprese through ComUnica.

Which Indian papers need an apostille?

Corporate records of an Indian parent, its board resolution and any power of attorney. Italy accepts the apostille issued by India's Ministry of External Affairs.

What is a PEC and why does it matter?

Posta elettronica certificata is email with legal value. The registry and tax office use it for official notices, so the company and its directors must each have one.

What is the ATECO code?

The classification of the company's activity, declared in the ComUnica filing. It decides some permits and statistics, so describe the business accurately.

What should the statuto protect for an Indian owner?

Who appoints the directors, which decisions need quotaholder approval and how quotas can be transferred, so control stays with the Indian side.

Costs and tax

What does a standard SRL cost to form?

Typically €2,100 to €3,600: the notary fee of €1,500 to €3,000 plus registration tax of €200, stamp duty of about €156 and chamber charges. Our Italy cost breakdown adds running costs.

What corporate taxes apply?

IRES at 24% on profit and IRAP, generally 3.9%, on the value of production. A reduced 20% IRES rate is available for 2025 and 2026 to companies that meet reinvestment and hiring conditions.

What is the standard VAT rate?

22%, with reduced rates for some goods and services. All business invoices are issued electronically through the Sistema di Interscambio.

How are dividends to India taxed?

Under the India Italy treaty, withholding is capped at 15% for a company holding at least 10%, and 25% otherwise. India gives credit for the Italian tax.

Is the SRLS really cheaper?

Yes. It pays no notary fee and no stamp duty, though registration tax and chamber charges still apply.

What does Comply Globally charge for Italy?

Italian company formation support starts from ₹55,000. Notary, translation and government costs are quoted separately.

After registration

When must the bilancio be approved and filed?

Within 120 days of year end, or 180 days where the statuto allows it, and filed with the registry within 30 days of approval.

When are the income tax returns due?

For a calendar year company, the IRES and IRAP returns are filed by 31 October, with tax payments in June and November.

Is there a yearly fee to the chamber of commerce?

Yes. The diritto annuale is paid every year, normally with the June tax payments.

Do Italian deadlines move in August?

Yes. Payments falling between 1 and 20 August are deferred to 20 August without penalty.

Where are all Italian and Indian dates listed?

In our Italy compliance guide, which lines up Italian VAT, accounts and tax dates with the Indian APR and FLA.

Comply Globally

What does Comply Globally manage in an Italian formation?

The structure, codici fiscali, apostilles and translations, PEC boxes, notary coordination through to the visura, and Form FC in India. See our SRL registration guide.

Can Comply Globally arrange the power of attorney?

Yes. The team drafts it with the Italian notary, coordinates the notarisation and apostille in India and sends it for translation.

Can Comply Globally compare Italy with other EU countries?

Yes. Start with our Italy and Germany comparison or the Spain, Portugal and Italy guide, then book a call.

Conclusion

Your Italy launch checklist

An Italian SRL comes together fast once the tax codes, apostilled papers and UIN are in hand before the notary date. Tick each item, or print the list for your team.

0of 14 done
Plan my Italian company

Before the notary

At the notary

After the visura