What changes about life in Italy in October 2023
From the 2024 budget plan to Covid booster jabs, here's what people living in Italy can expect in the coming month.
Budget plan
Italy's government is currently busy working on its 2024 budget law, with the first draft due to be presented to the EU by October 15th and to Italian parliament by October 20th.
This initial outline is likely to be far from the final version, however, as Italy's lower house and senate have until the end of the year to sign off on the budget, which is likely to undergo many rounds of revisions and amendments.
The government faces the challenge of trying to meet high voter expectations based on its 2022 electoral campaign promises with slow growth and a shrinking GDP.
Income tax declaration deadline
The window to submit the modello 730, Italy’s main income tax return form for employees and retirees, will close on October 2nd.
Once they’ve submitted the form with the national Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate), taxpayers will have until June 30th of next year to pay the first instalment of the total amount payable, with the second instalment due by November 30th 2024.
The main tax dates for the remainder of 2023, including the deadline for the modello persone persone fisiche (generally used by foreign residents and the self-employed), can be found in our tax calendar.
Covid vaccination campaign
Italy's autumn Covid booster drive is expected to be rolled out from October 2nd, with dates likely to vary by region.
The health ministry has recommended that the most at-risk categories in society, including people with serious health conditions and over-60s, get the booster vaccine, which gives better protection against the virus variants currently circulating in Italy, as well as lowering the risk of becoming seriously ill or dying from the virus.
Health Minister Orazio Schillaci said last week that the Covid vaccine remained a “fundamental device” after Italy saw a marked uptick in infections in September, with some 43.5 percent of cases attributable to a new variant dubbed ‘Eris’.
Italy's health authorities have said current variants are not a cause for concern.
Transport strikes
There are more strikes planned in October as a walkout by public transport staff set for September 9th has been postponed to October 9th.
Airline, rail and public transport passengers could also face delays or cancellations on Monday, October 20th due to a 24-hour general strike.
Autumn heritage days
On Saturday October 14th and Sunday 15th, more than 700 cultural sites across Italy open their doors to the public with Giornate FAI d’Autunno, or ‘FAI Autumn days’, a programme organised by the cultural heritage society Fondo Ambiente Italiano (the Italian equivalent of the UK's National Trust).
READ ALSO: Seven reasons autumn is the best time to visit Italy
Many of the participating sites, including villas, castles, churches, abbeys, parks, and theatres, are not usually open to the public or are otherwise difficult to visit.
Keep an eye on FAI's website, which is due to be updated in the first week of October with the list of sites to be included in this year's Autumn Days.
Giornate del Fai a Firenze, ieri Villa Schifanoia. pic.twitter.com/mlXToxHPyA
— Silla Cellino (@sillacellino) March 26, 2023
Clocks go back
The clocks fall back on the night of October 28th-29th, as we switch from Daylight Savings Time (or summer time) to standard time.
Luckily, this means you'll get an extra hour in bed on Sunday, but the evenings will feel a lot darker after the time change.
Digital clocks on computers or phones should update automatically, but get ready to frantically search for the manual to your oven so you can figure out how to change its display on the 29th.
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Budget plan
Italy's government is currently busy working on its 2024 budget law, with the first draft due to be presented to the EU by October 15th and to Italian parliament by October 20th.
This initial outline is likely to be far from the final version, however, as Italy's lower house and senate have until the end of the year to sign off on the budget, which is likely to undergo many rounds of revisions and amendments.
The government faces the challenge of trying to meet high voter expectations based on its 2022 electoral campaign promises with slow growth and a shrinking GDP.
Income tax declaration deadline
The window to submit the modello 730, Italy’s main income tax return form for employees and retirees, will close on October 2nd.
Once they’ve submitted the form with the national Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate), taxpayers will have until June 30th of next year to pay the first instalment of the total amount payable, with the second instalment due by November 30th 2024.
The main tax dates for the remainder of 2023, including the deadline for the modello persone persone fisiche (generally used by foreign residents and the self-employed), can be found in our tax calendar.
Covid vaccination campaign
Italy's autumn Covid booster drive is expected to be rolled out from October 2nd, with dates likely to vary by region.
The health ministry has recommended that the most at-risk categories in society, including people with serious health conditions and over-60s, get the booster vaccine, which gives better protection against the virus variants currently circulating in Italy, as well as lowering the risk of becoming seriously ill or dying from the virus.
Health Minister Orazio Schillaci said last week that the Covid vaccine remained a “fundamental device” after Italy saw a marked uptick in infections in September, with some 43.5 percent of cases attributable to a new variant dubbed ‘Eris’.
Italy's health authorities have said current variants are not a cause for concern.
Transport strikes
There are more strikes planned in October as a walkout by public transport staff set for September 9th has been postponed to October 9th.
Airline, rail and public transport passengers could also face delays or cancellations on Monday, October 20th due to a 24-hour general strike.
Autumn heritage days
On Saturday October 14th and Sunday 15th, more than 700 cultural sites across Italy open their doors to the public with Giornate FAI d’Autunno, or ‘FAI Autumn days’, a programme organised by the cultural heritage society Fondo Ambiente Italiano (the Italian equivalent of the UK's National Trust).
READ ALSO: Seven reasons autumn is the best time to visit Italy
Many of the participating sites, including villas, castles, churches, abbeys, parks, and theatres, are not usually open to the public or are otherwise difficult to visit.
Keep an eye on FAI's website, which is due to be updated in the first week of October with the list of sites to be included in this year's Autumn Days.
Giornate del Fai a Firenze, ieri Villa Schifanoia. pic.twitter.com/mlXToxHPyA
— Silla Cellino (@sillacellino) March 26, 2023
Clocks go back
The clocks fall back on the night of October 28th-29th, as we switch from Daylight Savings Time (or summer time) to standard time.
Luckily, this means you'll get an extra hour in bed on Sunday, but the evenings will feel a lot darker after the time change.
Digital clocks on computers or phones should update automatically, but get ready to frantically search for the manual to your oven so you can figure out how to change its display on the 29th.
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