The 2027 budget approved by the Meloni government contains a long series of tax increases that risk being overshadowed by the more publicized measures, such as bonuses and aid. They are taxes, not necessarily new, but which present themselves with different characteristics: higher rates, fewer deductions, new fees.
More expensive cigarettes, double increase in excise duties in 2027
Among the most immediately visible increases are cigarettes. Article 33 of the maneuver intervenes on tobacco excise duties, bringing forward part of the increases already planned for 2028 to 1 July 2027.
According to the government’s technical report, the advance of the increases could lead, from the second half of 2027, to an average increase in prices of around 13 cents per package compared to the prices that would have occurred without the intervention.
The measure does not only concern traditional cigarettes. Cigarillos, shredded tobacco, heated tobacco products and e-cigarette liquids are also affected. For the latter, the consumption tax rates expected from 2028 are brought forward to July 2027: from 20 to 22% for products with nicotine and from 15 to 17% for those without nicotine.
The State increases the levy on gambling and collects
The second intervention concerns gambling. From 1 January 2027, the single tax levy on traditional slot machines, the so-called AWPs, will increase from 24 to 25% of the sums played.
For video lotteries, the withdrawal instead rises from 8.6 to 9.6%. The limits of bets on AWPs also change: the maximum bet allowed goes from one to two euros and the maximum win from 100 to 200 euros.
The State also collects through the extension of concessions relating to betting and entertainment machines, as well as through the renewal of concessions for Bingo and the Scratch Card system. The move also establishes an additional Lotto and SuperEnalotto draw on Wednesday.
The Tobin tax doubles: buying shares can cost more
Another provision of the budget law concerns the financial market. Article 15 doubles the rates of the financial transaction tax, known as the Tobin tax.
For purchases of shares subject to the tax, the ordinary rate goes from 0.4 to 0.8%. On transactions carried out on regulated markets and multilateral trading systems, where the reduction provided for by tax regulations applies, the effective rate rises from 0.2 to 0.4%.
The levy on high-frequency transactions also doubles, from 0.04 to 0.08%.
Bills, from 2029 billions of expenses financed with system charges
The issue of bills mainly concerns the years after 2027. As we anticipated, articles 82 and 83 provide energy concessions for companies which, in 2027 and 2028, are financed through public appropriations. For 2029 and 2030, however, the bill establishes the use of the component of the general charges of the electricity system to support renewables, which we find in the bill under the item “Asos”.
From Italians’ bills, bonuses and business aid: here’s how much more we will pay
The resources foreseen for these two measures amount to 1.4 billion in 2029 and 1.2 billion in 2030, for a total of 2.6 billion.
Squeeze on compensations, the limit of tax debts changes
Another rule concerns taxpayers who have overdue tax debts registered in the register. Article 36 lowers from 50,000 to 30,000 euros the threshold beyond which, in the cases provided for by law, the ban on using tax credits as compensation is triggered.
The provision concerns debt positions for which the payment terms have expired, in the absence of conditions that allow the blocking to be avoided, such as suspension measures or installment plans.
Personalized plates, up to 10 thousand euros to choose the combination
Among the new taxes there is also the much talked about personalized car license plate. Starting from March 1, 2027, you will be able to choose a specific alphanumeric combination by paying 1,000 euros until May 31, 2027, or 500 euros for subsequent requests.
For companies and businesses, the expected fees are 10,000 and 5,000 euros respectively. The cost of producing the license plate and a further increase to be defined are added to the amounts.
Fewer deductions for those who finance political parties
The maneuver also affects donations to parties. Article 39 reduces the tax deduction recognized for donations in cash from 26 to 19%. For a eligible donation of 1,000 euros, for example, the theoretical deduction goes from 260 to 190 euros, with a difference of 70 euros.
How much does the state collect from the new taxes
Between banks, insurance, gambling, cigarettes, energy companies and new tax measures, the Meloni government aims to obtain approximately 17.9 billion euros in increased revenues and financial effects in the three-year period 2027-2029. The main share comes from measures dedicated to the financial sector, including stock market transactions, with approximately 12.4 billion.
This is followed by games and concessions, with 2.6 billion, and the increased taxation of energy companies, with another 2.5 billion. Then there are the bills, with increased charges of over 2 billion from 2029. Added to these amounts are 2.2 billion in cash effects deriving from the increase in withholdings on invoices between companies. Also considering the lower revenues caused by the postponement of plastic taxes and sugar taxes, the overall balance of the measures examined is close to 19.9 billion euros in the three-year period.
| Measure | Estimated collection 2027-2029 |
| Banking, insurance and financial sector, including Tobin tax | €12,400 million |
| Increase in slot and video lottery withdrawals | €1,155 million |
| Betting concessions and gaming machines | €843 million |
| Bingo Concessions | €69.1 million |
| Scratch and Win concession extension | €188 million |
| Additional Lotto and SuperEnalotto draws | €116.7 million |
| Taxes and permits for Lan rooms | €128.2 million |
| Regularizations and recoveries in the gaming sector | €86.6 million |
| Excise duties on cigarettes and smoking products | €112.2 million |
| Maggiore Irap energy companies | €2,503.5 million |
| Withholding taxes on invoices between companies | €2,203.5 million |
| Restrictions on tax compensation | €300 million |
| Exit tax on transfers of residence | €16.8 million |
| Reduction in deductions for donations to parties | €4.1 million |
| Total estimated over the three-year period | approximately €19.9 billion |
The estimates are contained in the technical report attached to the budget: they will depend on the performance of the economy, financial operations, consumption and the effective application of the new provisions. But the intentions are clear.