Self-employed with young family: transitory or residential rent?

Your wife is Italian so your child can access school easily.

For healthcare they may say you will need health insurance for the first 5 years of being resident, but you dont.  However, depending how long your wife has been out of Italy (and paying contributions) they may also ask her to have insurance.    Theoretically as you are married to an Italian you are entitled to the national healthcare, but it often depends on which ASL you go to and how the boss feels on that day.

You will need a commercialista to register you as self employed - depending on your age there are some very attractive tax break - you could pay 5% income tax for the first five years but this depends on whether you are going to continue in the same line of work as when you lived abroad.   If you opt for a forfettaria system though, there are no deductions - nothing - no prescriptions, school meals, books etc-  so it may not be in your interest given you have a small child, and if you rent out an office space that wouldnt be deductible either.   

As far as rental contracts.  a transitorio is for up to 18 months usually renewable and the the property must be furnished.   However as it is transitory the landlord can refuse to let you have residence in the property.  A contratto libero which is 4 years and renewable for a further 4, is must more secure (and for this reason there are fewer of them about) - but you could well get a place without a kitchen, and even a bathroom.   You are responsible for ordinary maintenance while you are renting.   Rent a flat with a work space and you can deduct some of your rent.

Dear Moficasa,

Thank you for the helpful information and tips.

Your wife is Italian so your child can access school easily.

Is this difficult to access otherwise?

For healthcare they may say you will need health insurance for the first 5 years of being resident, but you dont.  However, depending how long your wife has been out of Italy (and paying contributions) they may also ask her to have insurance.    Theoretically as you are married to an Italian you are entitled to the national healthcare, but it often depends on which ASL you go to and how the boss feels on that day.

In the UK there is a fee to pay for using the public healthcare for the first 5 years too. I guess this is something similar. That's fine and fair, I think.

What is ASL?

You will need a commercialista to register you as self employed

OK, I can get an accountant to assist in this process and investigate the possible benefits.

Rent a flat with a work space and you can deduct some of your rent.

Yes, I considered that here too.

So I think what you are saying is that I need a rent that includes residency because I wish to setup a business in Italy. This could be transitorio or long-term contract, but it depends on the landlord's wishes?

Regards,

To semiphysics

ASL stands for Azienda Sanitaria Locale that could be translated in local healthcare office (run by Italian state)