The Italian government announced on 26 June 2013 that the introduction of the increased rate of value added tax (VAT) will be deferred to 1 October 2013. The VAT rate will remain at 21% until October 2013.

The VAT rate was originally scheduled to increase to 22% from 1 July 2013, as proposed in 2012. Now the VAT rate increase is scheduled to be effective from 1 October 2013.