A helping hand is coming from Brussels for innovative Italian SMEs. In fact, the European Commission has authorised, in accordance with the guidelines already expressed on state aid intended to promote risk finance, tax incentives for investment in risk capital of innovative SMEs. This evolution now allows the extension of the scope of applicability of tax incentives, already in force for investments in innovative startups, to a wider range of companies: innovative SMEs, therefore not only younger companies but all those, small and medium-sized, that deal with innovation. For the definitive implementation, however, a decree from the MEF is missing, to be issued in concert with the Mise and expected in the first months of 2019.
The tax incentives specifically include:
• individuals: deduction for IRPEF purposes of 30% of the invested sum; the maximum deductible investment in each tax period is equal to 1 million euros (corresponding to a maximum annual deduction equal to 300 thousand euros);
• legal entities: deduction for IRES purposes of 30% of the amount invested; the maximum deductible investment in each tax period equal to 1,8 million euros (corresponding to a maximum annual deduction equal to 540 thousand euros).
Today there are over 900 innovative SMEs in Italy, of which 29 listed on AIM Italia, the segment of Piazza Affari dedicated to small and medium-sized enterprises.
