Freelance in Italy

Freelance in Italy: how freelancers pay taxes, get paid by foreign clients and find work, and which skills are in demand. Hire or offer services on Kits.

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The freelance market in Italy

Italy has a big community of freelance designers, developers, photographers, translators and marketers, with Milan and Rome as the main hubs. Italian businesses, many of them small and family-run, often need websites, e-commerce and social media.

Taxes and legal status

Every freelancer opens a VAT number (Partita IVA). Under the flat-rate regime (regime forfettario), a fixed share of revenue is taxed at 15%, or 5% for the first five years of a new activity, with no VAT charged, up to €85,000 of revenue. Pension contributions go to INPS (Gestione Separata) or a professional fund. Electronic invoicing is mandatory, including for flat-rate freelancers.

This is general information as of 2026, not tax or legal advice. Rates and thresholds change, so check them with the tax authority or a local accountant before you register.

Getting paid

Clients in the EU usually pay by SEPA transfer in EUR, which is fast and cheap inside the European payment area. PayPal, Wise and Revolut are widely used for smaller amounts and clients outside the EU. Italian invoices go through the SdI electronic system.

SEPA transfers in EUR
PayPal
Wise and Revolut
Stripe invoices

Skills in demand

web and e-commerce development
graphic and fashion design
photography and video
translation and localization in Italian
social media management
architecture and interior design

Tips for freelancers in Italy

Use the 5% start-up rate if you qualify: it lasts five years.
Set up electronic invoicing from the start.
Small Italian businesses value face-to-face trust: show local references.

Hiring a freelancer from Italy

Local time in Italy is UTC+1 (UTC+2 in summer), so agree in advance on the hours when you are both available for calls. Describe the task, the deadline and the budget in your first message, ask for examples of similar work, and fix what counts as done before work starts. If the work is for a local audience, a freelancer who knows the language and the market will save you rewrites.

Kits for freelancers in Italy

Kits is an international freelance marketplace that is not tied to one country. Freelancers in Italy can publish services with a portfolio and a clear price, or respond to clients' jobs, and talk to clients in the built-in chat. The first listing on each account is free, and the site works in nine languages, from English and Spanish to Russian, Turkish and Georgian.

Popular categories

All categories

Design Development & IT Writing & Translation Marketing & SMM Video & Animation Business Music & Audio

Frequently asked questions

Help center

How are freelancers taxed in Italy?

Freelancers open a Partita IVA; most use the flat-rate regime (regime forfettario) with 15% tax, or 5% for the first five years, up to €85,000 a year. Rules change, so check the current rates with the tax authority or an accountant before you register.

How do freelancers in Italy get paid by foreign clients?

The usual options are SEPA transfers in EUR, PayPal, Wise and Revolut and Stripe invoices. Which one suits you depends on the client's country, the fees and how fast you need the money.

Which freelance skills are in demand in Italy?

web and e-commerce development, graphic and fashion design, photography and video, translation and localization in Italian, social media management and architecture and interior design.

Can I find a freelancer in Italy on Kits?

Yes. Kits is open to clients and freelancers from any country. Search the catalogue or post a job, compare portfolios and reviews, and agree on the details in the chat.