In Italy, tax audits are a rarity. Each year, only 1.4% of businesses and professionals undergo a "substantial" inspection, meaning direct access and real checks. In practice, it would take at least seventy years to thoroughly examine the entire productive fabric.

Evasion discovered but not collected

The problem is not only the scarcity of checks but also their effectiveness. Of 100 euros of confirmed evasion, only 17-18 end up in public coffers. In 2024, out of 72.3 billion identified, only 12.8 were collected. When the assessment reaches a tax bill, the collection rate drops to just 3.1%.

Amnesties and expectations that favor the cunning

According to the Court of Auditors, taxpayers rely on future amnesties and write-offs, making checks less feared and not very deterrent. "The risk of being inspected is very low," observe the accounting magistrates, urging politics to strengthen the tax authorities' workforce and avoid new amnesties.

The most affected sectors and shocking data

Commerce, catering, healthcare, and entertainment are among the most controlled sectors, but with minimal percentages: between 1.3 and 1.7% of companies per year. In the construction sector, there is one check for every 20 companies, in real estate intermediaries one for every 50.

Financial controls on the rise, but without results

The only area on the rise is that of bank and investment controls, which increased from 3,540 in 2023 to 4,558 in 2024. Despite this, collections have plummeted by 61.4%, dropping from 13.2 to 5.1 million euros.