Save Money in Italy with These Important Words: Non Fiscale & Ricevuta

A little while ago, we wrote a blog post on how not to get ripped off eating in Italy. We made a number of suggestions, from knowing the price differences between having a coffee at the bar or at a table, to always making specific orders and not simply telling the waiter to bring “an antipasto for the table.”

Ways to save while traveling in Italy

Guardia di Finanza: Italy’s financial police

We also told you that, if you were handed a bill that seemed mysteriously inflated and your most polite attempts to fix the situation failed, you should bring on three key words: Guardia di Finanza. That, we said, is because the Guardia is Italy’s financial police. They’re very interested, or should be, in any financial wrongdoing in Italy. Including ripping people off. And including tax evasion.

Non fiscale: Non-fiscal

What does tax evasion have to do with your meal as a tourist? Well, the receipt you were given was, most likely, non-fiscal. Meaning the establishment isn’t paying any taxes on your meal. Meaning illegal. Non-fiscal receipts include anytime your waiter scribbles on your tablecloth or a napkin, any time you simply don’t receive a receipt, and any time you get a receipt that looks legitimate, but has a tipoff like the caption “NON FISCALE” at the top. (Our original post included a photo guide to fiscal versus non-fiscal receipts).

As it says on the top and the bottom, “NON FISCALE”—this is not a fiscal (i.e. legal) receipt!

Here’s what’s interesting; since we published that post, the tax situation in Italy has blown up. Berlusconi was ousted. A new government, led by Monti, has come in. And Monti seems to have made it his priority to whip the country’s economy into shape—by, among other things, cracking down on tax evasion. The Guardia has been involved in a number of sting operations across the country.

Ricevuta: Receipt

And Italian citizens? Many are backing the efforts. In fact, one of Rome’s biggest food bloggers, Puntarella Rossa, just launched a campaign titled “No scontrino, no party” (no receipt, no party). Those involved in the campaign are asking for a fiscal receipt every time they eat or drink out—and if they don’t receive a fiscal receipt, they’re boycotting the restaurant and even publishing the names online. Since the Guardia can’t be everywhere at once, those involved are hoping it’ll be one of the fastest ways to whip restaurants, and Italy’s tax situation, into shape.

Why is this important for tourists?

We think this campaign is important for tourists to know about, too. Insisting on legal receipts keeps restaurants honest. Not to mention that it helps Italy’s economy—and, as you know if you’ve been tuned into the news lately, that’s something that affects everyone.

For more on the subject, check out Revealed Rome’s post on why tourists should care about the “No receipt, no party” campaign.