The Art Bonus is a tax incentive introduced in Italian legislation with Law 29 July 2014, No. 106 and subsequent amendments, aimed at encouraging donations to support culture and the performing arts.
The Art Bonus provides a tax credit of 65% of the donated amount for cash donations in support of the Italian public cultural heritage.
In practice, those making a monetary donation for maintenance, protection, or restoration of public cultural heritage, or to support public cultural institutions, opera-symphonic foundations, traditional theaters, and the creation of new structures, the restoration, and enhancement of existing ones (all for public entities) for performing arts activities, can benefit from a tax credit over the following three years of taxation.
For example:
- if you make a donation of 500 euros, you will receive a tax credit of 325 euros (equal to 65% of the donation)
- if you make a donation of 10,000 euros, the tax credit will be 6,500 euros (65%)
The donation can be made by: individuals, business income earners, and non-commercial entities.
The Art Bonus applies only to public property; however, if an ecclesiastical entity is the concessionaire or trustee/manager of the public property, it may be the beneficiary of eligible charitable donations for the purposes of the Art Bonus.
Therefore, the Franciscan Province and ecclesiastical entities legally recognized and affiliated with it, as well as those managing public cultural heritage (both immovable and movable property), can benefit from the Art Bonus and receive donations, providing the donor with a tax advantage.
To learn more about the Art Bonus and the related tax benefits, visit the Ministry of Culture’s dedicated website: https://artbonus.gov.it/
