The City of Florence has uncovered more than €160,000 in unpaid tourist taxes and administrative penalties following an investigation into several extra-hotel accommodation businesses operating in the historic centre.
The operation, carried out by Florence Municipal Police’s anti-evasion unit in cooperation with the city’s Financial Resources Department, targeted seven tourist rental properties and one residence that authorities say were managed by the same operator.
Investigators examined activity between June 2023 and April 2026 and found what officials described as extensive failures to comply with reporting and tax obligations.
According to the municipality, inspectors identified 252 months of undeclared activity across the properties. Authorities said the operator failed to report tourist flows and did not pay the tourist tax collected from guests. The investigation also found that income generated from overnight stays had not been declared.
The city calculated the unpaid tourist tax at approximately €83,000. Administrative penalties exceeded €81,000, bringing the total amount claimed by authorities to more than €160,000.
Further checks are now under way regarding compliance with public security regulations, including requirements to communicate guest information to law enforcement authorities under Italy’s public security laws.
Increased scrutiny of the short-term rental sector
The investigation is part of a broader effort by Florence to strengthen oversight of the extra-hotel accommodation sector as tourism numbers continue to grow.
City officials say recent enforcement activities have focused on improving transparency and combating tax evasion and unfair competition in the tourism industry. The municipality argues that compliance is necessary both to protect businesses that follow the rules and to ensure that tourist-tax revenue is available for services used by residents and visitors.
Mayor Sara Funaro said the operation demonstrated the city’s commitment to enforcing regulations in the hospitality sector and recovering resources that would otherwise be lost to the community. She added that tourism remains a key economic asset for Florence, but businesses operating in the sector must comply with legal and fiscal obligations.
The municipality said inspections and enforcement activities in the accommodation sector will continue in the coming months.
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