Why hire in Italy through an EOR
Italy is one of Europe’s largest economies, but managing local employment requires navigating detailed statutory requirements. Employer INPS social security contributions average 29% to 32% of gross salary, TFR severance pay accrues annually for every employee (~6.91%), additional monthly salaries (13th and optional 14th month) are contractual, and wage floors are governed by sector collective agreements (CCNL). An Employer of Record manages these obligations end to end.
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.
Employment Cost Calculator
*Indicative figures only and not definitive legal advice. Local regulations change frequently. Consult an expertItaly
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How EOR in Italy works: the process through TopSource
Employer Costs in Italy at a Glance
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.
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:
- Hiring your first one to five people in Italy
- Sponsoring a non-EU hire under the Decreto Flussi quota system
- Still validating the Italian market before committing capital to an Srl
- Working to a hiring deadline measured in days, not weeks
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.
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
Read moreSalary Benchmarking
Identify and prioritize markets for growth based on talent, cost & regulations
Read moreGlobal Skills Analysis
Map skill availability by region to align talent strategies with business goals..
Read moreTalent Acquisition
Find, hire & onboard the highly skilled team members you need in each locality.
Read moreTalent Strategy Optimization
Optimize your talent strategy to enable your organization to achieve it’s global ambitions.
Read moreFrequently 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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