Employer of Record in Italy

Employ top talent in Italy without establishing a local entity. TopSource manages INPS social security, TFR severance accruals, 13th and 14th-month pay, and CCNL collective agreement compliance through our local setup.

St. Peter's Basilica and a bridge over the Tiber at golden hour in Rome, Italy

Hire in Italy without setting up an entity

Italy offers access to technical, commercial and creative professionals across Europe, but managing local employment requires navigating detailed statutory requirements. Employer INPS contributions average 29% to 32% of gross base pay. Additionally, every employee accrues Trattamento di Fine Rapporto (TFR) severance pay equal to ~6.91% of gross earnings per year, which must be paid out upon departure.

Compensation schedules in Italy are structured around 13 or 14 monthly payments per year. A 13th-month salary (tredicesima) is required across all industries, while a 14th-month salary (quattordicesima) is mandated in key sectors such as commerce, banking and logistics. In the absence of a statutory minimum wage, compensation floors and employment terms are determined by the applicable sector collective agreement (CCNL). An Employer of Record simplifies these operational requirements: TopSource legally hires your Italian staff under the appropriate CCNL, manages INPS, INAIL, IRPEF and TFR calculations, handles 13th and 14th-month payouts, and maintains compliance with Italian labour law.

Calculate Your Employee Costs in Italy

Enter a gross base salary to determine the total monthly cost of hiring in Italy — inclusive of employer INPS contributions, TFR severance accruals and 13th/14th month pay allocations.

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*Indicative figures only and not definitive legal advice. Local regulations change frequently. Consult an expert
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How EOR in Italy works: the process through TopSource

Step 1

Role structuring and CCNL mapping

We determine job categories, compensation levels and benefits with your team, map the role to the appropriate sector collective agreement (CCNL), and review work permit requirements for non-EU candidates.

Step 2

Issue a compliant employment contract

Your candidate receives an Italian employment contract aligned with the designated CCNL, detailing probation limits, notice requirements, paid leave, 13th/14th month pay and TFR terms.

Step 3

Sponsor the work permit, if applicable

For non-EU candidates, TopSource manages work authorisation filings within Italy’s immigration quota system (Decreto Flussi), aligning application timelines with onboarding targets.

Step 4

Register employment and execute payroll

We register the employee with the social-security authorities (INPS and INAIL), file the mandatory hiring communication (Comunicazione Obbligatoria) with the competent employment services, calculate monthly salary, process IRPEF tax withholdings and TFR accruals, and execute monthly F24 tax payments.

Step 5

Ongoing HR and operational support

Your dedicated account manager provides continuous support for expense reporting, leave tracking, CCNL updates, extra-month disbursements and termination processing.

Know your Italy hiring costs before you commit

Provide your role details and target compensation — TopSource will deliver a complete Italian cost model, including INPS, TFR and 13th/14th month obligations, within one business day.

Get a Custom Employment Quote

Employer Costs in Italy at a Glance

~ 30 %
Average employer INPS social security contribution on gross salary
~ 6.91 %
Annual TFR severance accrual rate, payable on exit
13 or 14
Mandatory annual salary payments required by sector CCNLs

Employer Costs in Italy Explained

Employing staff in Italy carries structured statutory overhead. Employer INPS social security contributions average 29% to 32% of gross salary, with additional coverage provided through INAIL workplace accident insurance. All employees accrue statutory TFR severance pay at ~6.91% of gross earnings per year, which is paid out upon employment termination. Furthermore, annual compensation is distributed over 13 or 14 monthly payments depending on the applicable sector CCNL. Total employer overhead typically equals at least approximately 1.4 times gross base salary.

The primary social contribution paid by Italian employers is remitted to INPS (Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale), averaging 29% to 32% of gross pay. INPS contributions fund national pensions, disability benefits, unemployment allowances (NASpI) and sick pay. Employers must also pay mandatory INAIL workplace accident insurance (Istituto Nazionale per l’Assicurazione contro gli Infortuni sul Lavoro), with rates scaled to job risk levels. All contributions are calculated monthly and remitted via the unified F24 tax form by the 16th of each following month.

Under Article 2120 of the Italian Civil Code, all employees accrue statutory TFR severance pay. TFR is calculated by taking total annual gross salary (including 13th/14th month pay) and dividing by 13.5, producing a gross accrual of approximately 7.41%; after the employer’s 0.50% contribution to the INPS guarantee fund, the net amount credited to the employee is approximately 6.91%. Accrued TFR is held and paid out upon employment termination for any reason, including resignation or dismissal. New hires may elect to leave their TFR with the company or transfer future accruals into a supplementary pension fund (fondo pensione).

Annual gross salary in Italy is distributed across extra monthly payments. 13th month (tredicesima): a mandatory payment disbursed every December to all employees. It represents a core component of contractual base pay rather than an optional bonus. 14th month (quattordicesima): an additional payment disbursed in June, mandated by specific sector collective agreements (e.g. Commerce, Retail, Services, Logistics). Because Italy does not have a national minimum wage, sector collective bargaining agreements (CCNL) set mandatory salary floors, job classifications, probation limits and notice periods. Properly classifying employees under the correct CCNL is essential for legal compliance.

Employee Personal Income Tax (IRPEF) is calculated on progressive statutory bracket rates of 23% (on income up to €28,000), 33% (from €28,001 to €50,000) and 43% (on income above €50,000), alongside regional and municipal surcharges withheld at source. Dismissals in Italy are strictly regulated by employment law: terminations require clear legal grounds (giusta causa or giustificato motivo) supported by explicit statutory procedures.

EOR or entity setup: which one fits your Italy plan?

Establishing an Italian corporate entity (Società a Responsabilità Limitata / Srl) requires notary registrations, INPS and INAIL account setups, local bank account creation and ongoing CCNL management. Utilising an EOR provides fast market entry, whereas incorporating an Srl becomes advantageous once local headcount scales significantly.

Consider an EOR if you’re:

  1. Hiring your first one to five people in Italy
  2. Sponsoring a non-EU hire under the Decreto Flussi quota system
  3. Still validating the Italian market before committing capital to an Srl
  4. Working to a hiring deadline measured in days, not weeks
The colourful cliffside village of Manarola in the Cinque Terre, Italy

Why TopSource for Employing in Italy

TopSource delivers Employer of Record and global payroll solutions designed for growing international businesses.

We offer transparent pricing without hidden administrative charges or long-term lock-ins. You receive a dedicated account manager available by phone to answer questions on Italian labour compliance — including CCNL role classification, TFR accrual management and extra-month payouts. We combine in-country compliance experience with reliable operational support.

An Italian flag over a narrow village street with a classic red Ape, Italy

More than an Employer of Record.

Employer of Record services are only one way that we help you accelerate your global growth goals. From talent advisory to entity management, we give you the tools you need to research, enter and expand into your key markets.

Market Selection Advisory

Compare available talent, compensation, additional costs and regulations across different countries

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Market Selection Advisory
Salary Benchmarking

Identify and prioritize markets for growth based on talent, cost & regulations

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Salary Benchmarking
Global Skills Analysis

Map skill availability by region to align talent strategies with business goals..

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Global Skills Analysis
Talent Acquisition

Find, hire & onboard the highly skilled team members you need in each locality.

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Talent Acquisition
Talent Strategy Optimization

Optimize your talent strategy to enable your organization to achieve it’s global ambitions.

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Talent Strategy Optimization
Global Benefits Review

Benchmark your global benefits to boost employee retention.

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Global Benefits Review

Frequently
asked questions

Total employer overhead in Italy is typically at least around 1.4 times gross base salary once everything is included: employer INPS social security (roughly 29% to 32% of gross), the ~6.91% annual TFR severance accrual, and the 13th (and, in some sectors, 14th) month payments. INAIL accident insurance is added on top, scaled to job risk. We quote the exact all-in figure per hire before you commit.

TFR (Trattamento di Fine Rapporto) is a statutory severance accrual under Article 2120 of the Civil Code. It is calculated as annual gross salary divided by 13.5 — a gross accrual of about 7.41%, or roughly 6.91% once the 0.50% guarantee-fund contribution is deducted — and is paid out when employment ends for any reason, including resignation or dismissal. New hires can leave their TFR with the company or transfer future accruals into a supplementary pension fund. We accrue and track it every month.

Italian pay is spread across extra monthly instalments. The 13th month (tredicesima) is mandatory for all employees and paid in December — it is part of contractual base pay, not a discretionary bonus. The 14th month (quattordicesima) is an additional payment, usually in June, required by specific sector CCNLs such as commerce, retail, services and logistics. We accrue and disburse both on their statutory schedules.

A CCNL (Contratto Collettivo Nazionale di Lavoro) is a national sector collective agreement. Because Italy has no statutory national minimum wage, the CCNL sets mandatory pay floors, job classifications, probation limits, notice periods and leave rules. Classifying each role under the correct CCNL is essential for compliance, and it is the first thing we do for every Italian hire.

An EOR gives fast market entry with employees working in days and INPS, INAIL, IRPEF, TFR and CCNL compliance handled. Incorporating an Srl — with notary registration, social-security account setups and ongoing CCNL management — becomes advantageous once local headcount scales. Many clients enter with an EOR and incorporate later, and we transfer the team when the time comes.

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