# Stripe in Italy

## Open a Stripe account
To open a Stripe account in Italy you need:
* An Italian tax code
* A physical address in Italy where you can receive mail
* A valid identification document
* A VAT ID, if you're registered for VAT, or a Codice Fiscale if you aren't registered for VAT)
A bank account that can be in:
* A eurozone country where Stripe is present and the currency is in Euro (EUR)
* Great Britain in Pounds Sterling (GBP)
* United States in Dollars (USD)
* Sweden to Swedish Krona (SEK)
* Norway to Norwegian Krone (NOK)
* Denmark to Danish Krone (DKK)
## Obligation to upload proof of identity and address, or company incorporation documentation
In certain countries, Stripe is required to collect, verify, and retain information about individuals or companies associated with a Stripe account. This obligation is enshrined in regulations and our financial partners and is intended to promote transparency and prevent individuals from using complex corporate structures to conceal funding from terrorist organizations, money laundering, tax evasion, or other financial wrongdoing.
When a Stripe account is registered, we use the information entered by the user to systematically verify the company and the individuals associated with it. To complete the verification process, we may eventually contact you to request a copy of your photo ID, documents proving the correctness of your address or company constitutive documentation. If your driver's license or ID card is uploaded, we may request that both sides of the document be uploaded. To make the process as simple and secure as possible, we direct users to the Stripe Dashboard, where they'll find a notification at the top right of the screen. The whole procedure can be completed within the Dashboard and it's even possible to use your webcam.
We take privacy and security very seriously. For security reasons, we don't accept copies of identity documents sent by email. Our Privacy Policy explains the methods and purposes for the collection, use, disclosure, and protection of any personal data provided to us.
## How much does Stripe cost?
See our [pricing guide](https://stripe.com/it/pricing) for up-to-date pricing information.
## What cards and payment methods does Stripe accept?
Stripe accepts payments made with Visa, MasterCard and American Express cards. Most prepaid cards issued by the main banking institutions adhere to the Visa and MasterCard circuits, and are therefore supported by Stripe.
For European customers, we also offer the following payment methods: iDEAL, Bancontact, P24, Sofort, and Giropay. We also support payments via SEPA Direct Debit.
Italian merchants can accept payments via Alipay, Apple Pay and Google Pay, our partners.
See our [complete guide on payment methods](https://stripe.com/payments/payment-methods-guide)
Contact us to accept payments from virtual cards like Expedia.
## What currencies can I accept?
In Italy, Stripe offers transaction settlement in 135 currencies.
See the [complete list of supported currencies in Italy](https://docs.stripe.com/currencies?presentment-currency=IT#presentment-currencies).
## How can I make a refund?
When a customer makes a payment, you have the option to refund it via the [API](https://stripe.com/docs/api/refunds/create) or the [Dashboard](https://dashboard.stripe.com/dashboard). To refund a payment on the Dashboard, open the payment page and click Refund. You can choose whether to refund the total or partial amount.
Depending on the bank, your customer will see the refund on their statement in 5 to 10 days.
## Is it possible to send a payment receipt by email to my customers in Italian?
You can send [receipts](https://stripe.com/docs/receipts) to your customers (and also to yourself) for each payment made.
## Does Stripe offer 3D Secure (Verified by Visa / MasterCard SecureCode)?
Yes. Stripe supports payment processing via 3D Secure. Read more in our [documentation](https://stripe.com/docs/sources/three-d-secure).
3D Secure is a system for verifying the customer's identity before making an online purchase. With 3D Secure, the customer is automatically redirected to a page created by his bank, where he is asked to enter an additional password before completing the payment with his card.
Being an authentication system, 3D Secure helps prevent fraud. Stripe offers other methods of [fraud prevention](https://stripe.com/docs/disputes/prevention), allowing the verification of the identity of customers. These tools include automatic CVC verification and cardholder address, as well as automatic anti-fraud systems.
## Wire transfers
Wire transfers to your bank account are processed every day, and these funds are effective after 7 days. For example, a payment received on August 1st will be deposited into your bank account on August 8th, and the August 2nd payment will be available on August 9th.
You can choose the frequency of these transfers (every week, every month) or use the manual mode, in which case it's up to you to make the transfers regularly. You can change the frequency of wire transfers in the [Dashboard](https://dashboard.stripe.com).
Learn more about ACH Direct Debit settlement times in other countries
## Can I have a bank account in a currency other than the euro?
You can link bank accounts with the following currencies:
* A eurozone country, where Stripe is present, and with the Euro currency (EUR)
* Great Britain with Pounds currency (GBP)
* United States with Dollars (USD) currency
* Sweden with currency Swedish krona (SEK)
* Norway with currency Norwegian krone (NOK)
* Denmark with Danish krone currency (DKK)
* Switzerland with currency Swiss Franc (CHF)
See more about [supported accounts and settlement currencies](https://stripe.com/docs/payouts#supported-accounts-and-settlement-currencies).
## How can I change the description on the statement descriptor?
You can change the statement descriptor directly from the Dashboard, under [**Business settings**](https://dashboard.stripe.com/settings/business-details). Learn more about setting your [public business info](https://stripe.com/docs/account/manage#public-business-information).
## How does Stripe handle VAT?
Invoice VAT on payments
To apply VAT to your customers, you need to include the VAT rate in the total amount you pay through Stripe. Stripe doesn't automatically calculate the VAT. There are several integrations that allow you to do this:
* [Avalara](https://www.avalara.com/us/en/index.html)
* [Billbo](https://github.com/piesync/billbo)
* [Octobat](https://www.octobat.com/)
* [Quaderno](https://quaderno.io/)
* [Taxamo](https://www.vertexinc.com/)
VAT rules depend on the nature of what you sell, the type of customers you sell to and where they are located. We recommend that you consult an accountant to determine the specific regulation that applies to your business.
## Invoice VAT on subscriptions
If you need to invoice VAT on a subscription, you can use the `tax_percent parameter` when creating the subscription to set the VAT rate to apply. The final amount of the tax will be automatically calculated based on the net amount of the invoice and added to the total, taking into account any discounts and invoice items.
## VAT on Stripe fees
From 2022 through June 30, 2025, Stripe charged Italian VAT to Stripe fees charged to users domiciled in Italy.
For services provided after June 30, 2025, Stripe provides services through Ireland and doesn't charge VAT. If you think you may need to self-account (“reverse charge”) for local VAT in your jurisdiction on the services received from Stripe (product and service fees), we recommend contacting a tax advisor or accountant for support. Stripe will deliver a tax invoice to the Dashboard that includes monthly activity on your Stripe account. This is not an e-invoice.
To learn more, see FAQ VAT e-invoicing requirements in Italy.
## How can I carry out bank reconciliation?
For bank reconciliation, we recommend downloading the [Balance export](https://dashboard.stripe.com/balance): every single transaction on your account, such as payments, refunds and disputes (all operations that affect the amount of wire transfers) are listed here, making accounting for certain periods very easy time.
[Payments exports](https://dashboard.stripe.com/payments) provides more detail on each payment made, which can be useful for customer service but is not intended for accounting purposes. The Payments export also includes data on failed transactions and does not treat refunds in the same way, which means that this export will automatically be different from the [Monthly Report](https://dashboard.stripe.com/settings/legacy_exports).
Stripe also allows you to download reports in [Quickbooks format](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/global/).
## What security standards does Stripe meet?
Stripe is certified as a Level 1 Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard ([PCI)](https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/) service provider, the highest level of security certification in the payment industry. You can see our certification on the [Visa website](https://www.visa.com/splisting/searchGrsp.do?companyNameCriteria=stripe).
Stripe saves your customers' payment information for you, which gives you the ability to control the entire customer experience without having to be responsible for complex PCI requirements. To ensure data protection, you can:
* Obtain and use an [SSL certificate](https://stripe.com/docs/security) to secure payments on your site,
* Use [Stripe.js](https://stripe.com/docs/js) or [Checkout](https://stripe.com/payments/checkout) to accept payment details and send them to Stripe servers without them passing through your servers.
## What methods does Stripe use to limit the risk of fraud?
All Stripe users automatically benefit from fraud protection systems, at no additional cost. The core component is [Radar](https://stripe.com/docs/radar), the machine learning system developed internally by Stripe to provide maximum protection against fraud in real time.
Our fraud prevention system analyzes hundreds of different characteristics for each debit attempt in real time to protect Stripe users from fraudulent activity. [Transactions deemed fraudulent](https://stripe.com/docs/guides/fraud) are automatically blocked.
## Disputes and cancellations: what are they and how are they managed by Stripe?
Sometimes transactions are contested by customers. At Stripe, we call these [disputes](https://stripe.com/docs/disputes) "chargebacks." When this happens, Stripe provides all the tools you need to defend your position. In fact, you will be able to upload all the necessary information and evidence through the Dashboard and Stripe will take care of forwarding all the documentation to your customer's bank. The entire decision making process can take up to 60 days. Importantly, reviewing the information provided and deciding who won the dispute is in the hands of the bank.
When a dispute is filed, the bank automatically refunds the full amount to the customer. The amount of the initial payment and a fee of €15 (imposed by the banks to cover the costs of the dispute) are taken from your Stripe account. Stripe automatically withdraws the entire refunded amount and this fee from your Stripe account. At the end of the review process, if you win the dispute, Stripe will refund you the full amount, including the €15 chargeback.
## How can I make sure I've set up Stripe correctly?
All Stripe accounts offer a test area. To try Stripe before activating your account, we recommend that you only use the test [API keys](https://dashboard.stripe.com/test/apikeys) and our [test card numbers](https://stripe.com/docs/testing#cards).