The codice fiscale: how to get your tax code

The sentences you need

• Ha la prenotazione?

  Do you have a booking?

• Devo richiedere il codice fiscale.

  I need to apply for a tax code.

• Ho anche compilato il modulo.

  I've also filled in the form.

• Qual è il suo indirizzo in Italia?

  What's your address in Italy?

• Mi sono trasferita il mese scorso.

  I moved here last month (said by a woman).

• Già fatto?

  Done already?

• Arriva per posta.

  It comes by post.

Chapters

1. 0:00The conversation
2. 0:48Welcome
3. 1:30Line by line
4. 4:08Your turn
5. 5:11Italy, decoded
6. 5:53The conversation, again
7. 6:41See you next time

Full transcript

Italian lines are highlighted. Tap a time to listen from there.

1. 0:00Host

   Can you follow this? Don't worry if you can't. By the end of this episode, you will.

2. 0:05Voice 2

   Buongiorno. Ha la prenotazione?

3. 0:08Voice 1

   Sì, alle dieci e mezza. Devo richiedere il codice fiscale.

4. 0:13Voice 2

   Bene. Mi dà il passaporto?

5. 0:15Voice 1

   Eccolo. Ho anche compilato il modulo.

6. 0:18Voice 2

   Perfetto. Qual è il suo indirizzo in Italia?

7. 0:22Voice 1

   Via Mascarella dieci, a Bologna.

8. 0:25Voice 2

   È qui per lavoro?

9. 0:27Voice 1

   Sì, per lavoro. Mi sono trasferita il mese scorso.

10. 0:31Voice 2

    Benissimo. Ecco il certificato con il suo codice fiscale.

11. 0:35Voice 1

    Già fatto? E la tessera?

12. 0:38Voice 2

    Quella arriva per posta, quando si iscrive al servizio sanitario.

13. 0:42Voice 1

    Perfetto. Grazie mille!

14. 0:45Voice 2

    Prego. Arrivederci.

15. 0:48Host

    "Ciao!" And welcome to Living in Italian, by Adesso Italian. One real situation from life in Italy, in under ten minutes.

16. 0:57Host

    Today: the "codice fiscale", your Italian tax code. You need it for almost everything: to rent a flat, open a bank account, get a phone contract, see a doctor. So it's usually the first piece of paperwork you do.

17. 1:12Host

    By the end, you'll know what to say at the tax office, what they'll ask you, and what you walk out with.

18. 1:18Host

    Quick note: the voices you hear are AI-generated. Every script is written for real life in Italy and checked by a native Italian speaker.

19. 1:27Host

    Let's go, line by line.

20. 1:29Host

    You're at the "Agenzia delle Entrate", the tax office. The clerk starts with: "Buongiorno. Ha la prenotazione?" Good morning. Do you have a booking?

21. 1:41Host

    "La prenotazione" is the booking. Many offices in Italy work by appointment now, so book online before you go.

22. 1:49Host

    You answer with the time, and then the reason you're there:

23. 1:53Voice 1

    Devo richiedere il codice fiscale.

24. 1:56Host

    "Devo" means I have to. "Richiedere" means to apply for, to request. Not "applicare": that's a false friend. With "devo richiedere" you can apply for anything: "devo richiedere la carta d'identità", the ID card.

25. 2:15Host

    The clerk asks: "Mi dà il passaporto?" Can you give me your passport? And you hand it over:

26. 2:22Voice 1

    Eccolo. Ho anche compilato il modulo.

27. 2:25Host

    "Eccolo": here it is. It's "eccolo" because "il passaporto" is masculine. For a feminine word, like "la carta d'identità", you say "eccola".

28. 2:40Host

    "Ho compilato il modulo": I've filled in the form. "Compilare" is to fill in, and "il modulo" is the form. You can download it from the Agenzia's website and bring it already filled in. The clerk will love you.

29. 2:55Host

    Next question: "Qual è il suo indirizzo in Italia?" What's your address in Italy? You just say the street, the number and the city: "Via Mascarella dieci, a Bologna."

30. 3:07Host

    Then: "È qui per lavoro?" Are you here for work? And the answer:

31. 3:12Voice 1

    Sì, per lavoro. Mi sono trasferita il mese scorso.

32. 3:17Host

    "Mi sono trasferita": I moved here. A woman says "trasferita", with an A. A man says "trasferito", with an O. "Il mese scorso": last month.

33. 3:30Host

    And then the good news: "Ecco il certificato con il suo codice fiscale." Here's the certificate with your tax code. It's usually done on the spot.

34. 3:40Host

    That's why you say:

35. 3:42Voice 1

    Già fatto?

36. 3:43Host

    Done already? Use it any time something in Italy is faster than you expected. And you ask about the card: "E la tessera?"

37. 3:52Host

    The answer: "Quella arriva per posta, quando si iscrive al servizio sanitario." That one comes by post, when you register with the health service. The plastic card with your code is your "tessera sanitaria", your health card.

38. 4:07Host

    Your turn. I'll say a sentence in English. In the pause, say it in Italian, out loud. Then listen to the answer.

39. 4:16Host

    I need to apply for a tax code.

40. 4:22Voice 1

    Devo richiedere il codice fiscale.

41. 4:25Host

    I've also filled in the form.

42. 4:31Voice 1

    Ho anche compilato il modulo.

43. 4:34Host

    Here it is. Talking about your passport.

44. 4:40Voice 1

    Eccolo.

45. 4:42Host

    I moved here last month.

46. 4:48Voice 1

    Mi sono trasferita il mese scorso.

47. 4:52Host

    Done already?

48. 4:56Voice 1

    Già fatto?

49. 4:58Host

    One more, a little harder. I need to apply for the ID card.

50. 5:07Voice 1

    Devo richiedere la carta d'identità.

51. 5:11Host

    Italy, decoded. Why sixteen characters?

52. 5:15Host

    Your "codice fiscale" is built from your surname, your first name, your date of birth, whether you're a man or a woman, and where you were born. If you were born abroad, there's a code for your country. That's why Italians can often guess your birthday from it.

53. 5:31Host

    It's free. You get it at an office of the "Agenzia delle Entrate", or, before you move, at an Italian consulate abroad. Bring your passport, and if you're not an EU citizen, your visa or residence permit too.

54. 5:46Host

    And keep the certificate safe. Until the health card arrives, that piece of paper is your tax code.

55. 5:53Host

    Now, the full conversation again. This time, you'll understand all of it.

56. 5:58Voice 2

    Buongiorno. Ha la prenotazione?

57. 6:01Voice 1

    Sì, alle dieci e mezza. Devo richiedere il codice fiscale.

58. 6:05Voice 2

    Bene. Mi dà il passaporto?

59. 6:08Voice 1

    Eccolo. Ho anche compilato il modulo.

60. 6:11Voice 2

    Perfetto. Qual è il suo indirizzo in Italia?

61. 6:14Voice 1

    Via Mascarella dieci, a Bologna.

62. 6:18Voice 2

    È qui per lavoro?

63. 6:19Voice 1

    Sì, per lavoro. Mi sono trasferita il mese scorso.

64. 6:24Voice 2

    Benissimo. Ecco il certificato con il suo codice fiscale.

65. 6:28Voice 1

    Già fatto? E la tessera?

66. 6:30Voice 2

    Quella arriva per posta, quando si iscrive al servizio sanitario.

67. 6:35Voice 1

    Perfetto. Grazie mille!

68. 6:37Voice 2

    Prego. Arrivederci.

69. 6:40Host

    That's it for today. If you want to practise situations like this one, with exercises and instant correction, Studio has units on Italian paperwork, and Unit 1 is free. The link is in the show notes.

70. 6:53Host

    Next episode: calling your landlord, because the boiler is broken.

71. 6:58Host

    This was Living in Italian, by Adesso Italian. See you next time.