---
title: "Registering a rental contract in Italy: steps and deadlines"
url: https://praticaexpress.it/en/register-rental-contract-in-italy
description: "By when it must be registered, what it costs and what happens if you forget. A practical guide for foreign landlords and tenants."
updated: 2026-11-03T08:24:39+01:00
---

# Registering a rental contract in Italy: steps and deadlines

In Italy every rental contract lasting more than 30 days in a year must be registered with the Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate). It is mandatory: an unregistered contract is not valid.

## Deadline

Registration must be done within **30 days** of signing the contract, or of the start date if earlier. The landlord usually takes care of it, but both parties are responsible.

## How much it costs

With the flat-rate tax option (**cedolare secca**) there is no registration tax or stamp duty: the landlord pays the tax with the income tax return. Without it you pay the registration tax, as a rule 2% of the yearly rent with a fixed minimum, plus stamp duty on the contract.

## What is needed

- The contract signed by landlord and tenant.
- ID documents and Italian tax codes (codice fiscale) of the parties.
- The cadastral data of the property.
- The energy performance certificate (APE).

## After registration

Every year, without the cedolare secca, the tax for the following year must be paid. Extensions, transfers and early termination must also be reported to the Revenue Agency.

## If you are late

You can fix it with the «ravvedimento», paying a reduced penalty: the sooner you do it, the less you pay.

Living abroad? Send us the contract and the documents by email or WhatsApp: we register it online and send you the official receipt.

[We register your contract →](https://praticaexpress.it/en/registrazione-contratto-di-locazione)