An Italy crypto exit tax is taking shape in the country’s 2027 budget draft – a proposal that would tax unrealized capital gains for high-net-worth individuals who move their tax residency abroad, with digital assets potentially inside the net even though the text does not name them explicitly.
Presented by the Italian government at the end of October and now moving through parliament, Article 17 of the budget bill would introduce the levy for anyone leaving after January 1, 2027 who held at least EUR 800,000 in covered assets and was Italian tax-resident for at least 6 of the preceding 10 years.
What the Italy crypto exit tax would actually cover
Here is where the headlines need a correction. The widely reported rate in mainstream Italian coverage – la Repubblica and Il Sole 24 Ore among them – is 26% on financial income and unrealized gains, not the 33% figure circulating in parts of the crypto press. The 33% appears to trace back to a single industry flash report and may be a collision with Italy’s top personal income tax bracket.
The taxable base would be the positive difference between each asset’s market value at the end of the tax year before departure and its acquisition cost – meaning holders could owe on gains they never cashed in. Taxpayers moving to an EU country or a nation with a tax-cooperation agreement with Italy could defer payment until sale, paying 50% upfront with a guarantee.
Crypto’s status stays genuinely ambiguous. No reviewed source confirms an explicit crypto inclusion or exclusion in the draft; TokenPost notes the measure is not specifically aimed at digital assets, though they may be covered. Anyone drafting an exit plan on either assumption is reading tea leaves against legislative text.
Still a draft: rates and scope can change
The bill has not received final parliamentary approval, and the rate, thresholds and asset scope can all shift before it passes. The same budget also raises the flat annual tax for new residents on foreign income to EUR 200,000 – together painting a clear picture: Italy wants mobility for the wealthy, but with a priced ticket at the door.
For crypto holders weighing a move before 2027, the takeaway is simple: watch the final text, not the viral screenshot.
