EDGE Venues

Italy raises VAT 1% to 22% from July 2013

The Italian government has announced plans yesterday to halve its planned 2% VAT increase scheduled for 2013.  The Italian standard VAT rate will now rise from 21% to 22% from 1 July 2013.  The reduced VAT rate will increase from 10% to 11%.  The super reduced rate will remain at 4%.

The original 2013 2% VAT rise was proposed in December 2011 as a measure to assure nervous financial markets.  It followed a 1% increase to 21% in September 2011 at the start of the latest Euro crisis.

Since that announcement, the technocrat government of Premier Monti has made great strides in reducing government spending, partially in an effort to avoid the 2% rise.  As recently as September the belief was that the rise would not be needed.

However, yesterday the latest budget measures emerged confirming an Italian 1% rise in 2013.  It is estimated that this change in the rise will cost around Euro 3.3 billion per annum.

In addition to the changes in VAT rate, there will also be a cut in income taxes.

Lesser Town Bridge Tower is closed for repairs from 11 October 2012 to 20 January 2013 . Tourist Information Centre, which is run by the Prague Information Service, remains open until the end of the summer tourist season, until 28 October 2012.

The Marriott & Renaissance Hotels in Vienna convince with flexibility and professionalism. The properties have unveiled their new special offers:

Vienna Marriott Hotel

     EUR 189,- per room per night

Imperial Riding School Renaissance Vienna Hotel

     EUR 119,- per room per night

Renaissance Wien Hotel

     EUR 99,- per room per night

Rates are including breakfast and internet access in guest rooms.

Valid upon request and availibility. Applies to new bookings with a minimum of 10 rooms for stays as of now until February 28th, 2013 exclusively.