Italy Tax Agency Clarifies VAT Treatment of Trademark Transfers

The Italian Revenue Agency Aug. 19 issued Letter No. 210/2025, clarifying the VAT rules for trademark transfers. The taxpayer, a company, acquired trademark and related intellectual property (IP) rights from another company to replace a prior license. The taxpayer sought clarification regarding whether the transaction constituted a transfer of a business branch that was excluded from VAT and subject to proportional registration tax, or a taxable supply of goods or services. Upon review, the Tax Agency found that: 1) the taxpayer’s transaction wasn’t a business branch transfer because it only involved assets like trademark and IP rights, and not personnel, ...