The government has revealed plans for an app that will be released by the end of the month to apply for the holiday bonus in Italy.
Going to the beach in Italy could still be an option for residents this summer / Gtres
Going to the beach in Italy could still be an option for residents this summer / Gtres

In an attempt to help both families and the tourism sector after the coronavirus health crisis, the Italian government wants to encourage residents to spend their summer holidays in Italy this year and is doing so with the help of the holiday bonus. By the end of the month, the scheme should be up and running and open for applications. Let's see how to apply for Italy's 2020 holiday bonus

Italy's "relaunch decree", the process of reopening the country, detailed several measures to help the population during these difficult and unprecedented times, one of these being the "bonus vacanze" (holiday bonus). The measure should start on 1st July and remain in force until 31st December 2020 to encourage holidays within national borders. 

How will residents in Italy be able to apply for the bonus? According to what is known to date, those wanting to apply will need the increasingly known "SPID" (public digital identity system) identity and will need to submit an updated ISEE (the equivalent economic situation indicator) declaration which, according to the requirements, must not exceed 40 thousand euros. In addition to these requirements, it will also be necessary to use an application that should be issued by the date of 1st July 2020.

Currently, the government has allocated 1.67 billion for 2020 and 734 million for 2021 for the holiday bonus. According to initial calculations, the households that have an ISEE that does not exceed 40 thousand euros in 2019 and therefore eligible for the scheme would be 5.8 million, however, the executive expects that the holiday bonus will increase the number of applicants.

The holiday bonus is not a fixed amount, but varies according to different parameters. In detail, individuals are entitled to 150 euros, 300 for two people and 500 for groups of three or more. It should be specified that 80% of these figures will have to be used as a discount in the chosen facilities (among those who participate), while the remaining 20% can be deducted from IRPEF (income tax) in the 2021 tax return.

The app to be issued by 1st July by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Tourism in Italy and will generate a QR code that can be used at the participating facilities and will also record the data of the recipient of the holiday bonus. The bonus can only be used once with no possibility of splitting the amount.

Article seen at: Spid, Isee e app: corsa in salita per lo sconto ferie da 500 euro (Il sole 24 ore)