Company Filing Requirements in Italy

Legal requirement to file annual accounts

All limited liability companies must lodge a copy of its articles of association and a list of its directors to the Register of Business Enterprises at the local court or 'tribunal'. The annual financial statements have to be filed as well and must include:

detailed directors' report
balance sheet
profit and loss account
auditor's report for all SpA and SRL companies with a capital of over 100 million lire.

Consolidated accounts only have to be filed by quoted companies. These documents are open to public inspection at the local Register of Business Enterprises.

Filing Exemptions

None.

Company registration and licensing procedures

The establishment of status must be drawn up in a deed, by a solicitor. They must be introduced with the register of companies within 30 days, then with the Commercial Court of the province where the company will be located. A registration with the local Chamber of Commerce is also required as well as a notice in the official journal of advertisements. These formalities take about 4 weeks.

Types of companies registered in Italy

Form	Number of partners/ shareholders	Minimum and/or maximum capital	Liability	Release of financial documents
Societa a responsabilita limitata (SRL) is a Private Limited Company.	No minimum nb: 1 partner for a sole proprietorship.	Minimum 10,000 €, totally subscribed and released up to 3/10 at the creation.	Liability is limited to the amount contributed.	No
Societa per azioni (SpA) is a Public Limited Company.	Minimum 2 shareholders.	Minimum 100,000 €, totally subscribed and released up to 3/10 at the creation. Their liability is limited to the amount contributed.	Liability is limited to the amount contributed.	Yes
Societa in nome Colletivo (SNC) is a general partnership.	Minimum 2 partners	No minimum capital.	Partners' liability is joint and several.	No
Societa in Accomanditari Semplice(SAS) is a limited partnership.	Two types of partners: active partners and sleeping partners.	No minimum capital.	Liability of active partners is unlimited	No
Societa Cooperativa (SC) is a co-operative company	Minimum 9 partners	No minimum capital.	Liability is limited or unlimited depending on the status.	No