Housework, more lean concessions: all the novelties of the buddown circular on renovations

Just scroll through the questions that come to the column of the letters de The economy To see how after more than a quarter of a century from their institution the building bonuses are still a topic of burning interest. And not only for our readers, because the concessions have proven to be a formidable incentive to redevelop the Italian building heritage and have saved the financial statements of the construction companies. The path for obtaining tax discounts is now much more accidental, because the provisions present in the Budget Law 2025 are much more restrictive than in the past lending to various doubts, resolved by the Revenue Agency with circular 8/E of 19 June. The only facility saved, but only until next December 31, is that for the reduction of architectural barriers, which remained with the same rules of 2024 and with generous deductions: 75% of the expenditure in ten years as long as the works meet the precise requirements of Ministerial Decree 236/89. For the rest: practically deceased the Superbonus (remains, at 65%, only for the condominiums that started the work in October 2024), the Ecobonus and the ordinary earthquake are reduced and allow a maximum deduction (with variable roofs according to the works) similar to that of the renovation bonus: 50% of the expense in ten years.

Changes and doubts

The works that can enjoy the tax advantage have not changed over time, with an important exception for Ecobonus: no fiscal advantage can be obtained if condensing boilers are installed. But the most incisive accepted blow came from the redefinition of the requirements of the property and the taxpayer. In fact, 50% are obtainable only for the first houses and only by those who have a real right on the property: it is therefore necessary to be the owner, usufructory or enjoy the right of residence or surface. Family members within the third degree not cohabiting are also included in the notion provided that they incur the expenses. In all other cases the deduction drops to 36%. We also remind you that the building bonuses include among the deductions cut for taxpayers with IRPEF taxable over 75 thousand euros. The circular of revenue favorablely resolves two doubts: in the concept of first home, both the appurtenances and the common parts of the building are included, therefore the green light of 50% if the owner renovates the pits or faces redevelopment costs in the condominium. The obligation to hold a real right on the property instead cuts out of 50% those who recorded a purchase preliminary and has not yet reworked because when the renovation is started the real right on the property does not have it.

The new percentages since 2026

Postposing the payment of the first invoice after the deed would not eliminate the problem in all cases in which for the works there is the start of a building practice in common, because the date of the submission of the application is considered the start date. When renovating before the deed, the other discriminating requirement for 50%is also missing, that is, that the property is considered a first home but this is not a problem because, the revenues specify, as long as the apartment is the usual residence of the taxpayer at the end of the works. Even if the circular does not make it a specific mention It can be considered by analogy that, as explicit in the case of tenants and comfort, those who have recorded the compromise, however, have the right to the facility of 36%. If nothing changes, the cords of the tax bag will be even closer starting from 1 January next, because the deductions now 50% will go to 36% and those today at 36% will drop to 30%. There are a couple of factors that make some doubts legitimate on the effective practicability of this further downgrading. The first is that already in the first two months of 2025 the tax revenues deriving from the withholding taxes on the “speaking wire transfers” decreased in a significant extent with the strong suspicion that on the other hand the submerged increased; The second is that Italy will have to transpose the Case Green directive and it is not clear who will want to face expenses of tens of thousands of euros to redevelop their property in exchange for such a reduced tax benefit.