The Emilia-Romagna Region and the toxic car tax: a clash over unpaid taxes

Bologna, August 9, 2025 – Over half a billion. This is the total amount of unpaid car taxes owed by vehicle owners in Emilia-Romagna over the past 10 years . A torrent of money that escaped the agency's coffers has now come under scrutiny by the Forza Italia regional council group, which criticizes the €512 million unpaid figure as "far greater than the massive €440 million tax hike approved in March, which increased personal income tax (IRPEF), regional production tax (IRAP), and car tax itself (+10%), as well as introducing a co-pay on medicines," state group leader Pietro Vignali and council member Valentina Castaldini.

Each year, car tax is worth approximately €500 million, of which €39 million was uncollected in 2015, €36 million in 2016, €44.5 million in 2017, €42 million in 2018, and another €42 million in 2019. The peak was reached in 2022, after various Covid extensions, with €167.5 million uncollected. Finally, in 2023 and 2024, the gap was €68 million and €72 million, respectively. Meanwhile, the Region has issued clarifications that put the figures into perspective , but confirm the existence of a "hard core" of uncollectable debts of approximately €40 million annually, often due to taxpayer insolvency or insolvency, equal to 8%. This is enormous in absolute terms. The Region is taking action to collect the last three years' worth of stamp duties , achieving a range of 86-92%. The 'ball' will then be passed to the Revenue Agency, with its collection and seizure channels, unless the tax bills are scrapped.