How to Calculate Your Tax Code: Easy Steps Using Online Tool

Your tax code is a 16-character alphanumeric ID, and you can calculate it fast with a Formula and online tool, then check it on your Health Card.

What Is the Italian Tax Code and Why It Matters

A tax code is a 16-character alphanumeric ID used for taxes and identity. It helps you open a bank account, sign contracts, handle health service care, and file tax returns.

• Introduced in Italy in 1973
• Rules set by a 1974 ministerial decree

Free Online Tax Code Calculator – Quick Start

Use the free online calculator by entering your full name and surname, birth date, municipality of birth, and gender. The generated result is for information only, so verify it on your Health Card or with the Revenue Agency.

1. Enter your name and surname
2. Select your date of birth
3. Indicate your birth municipality
4. Choose your gender
5. Submit to generate the code

16‑Character Structure of the Tax Code

The tax code follows an official structure, and the algorithm is set by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. It is always 16 characters total, grouping personal data and a final control character.

Position	Characters	What it Represents
1-3	3 letters	Surname
4-6	3 letters	Name
7-8	2 numbers	Year of birth
9	1 letter	Month of birth
10-11	2 numbers	Day of birth + gender
12-15	4 characters	Belfiore Code (municipality or foreign state)
16	1 letter	Control character

Step 1 – Deriving the Surname Letters

First, take consonants of the surname from left to right. Next, if there are fewer than 3 consonants, add vowels. Finally, if the surname is too short, pad with X.

• ROSSI → R, S, S → RSS
• WHITES → B, N, C → BNC
• BO → B + O + X → BOX

Step 2 – Deriving the Name Letters (Special Four‑Consonant Rule)

For the name, the special four-consonant rule applies to the first name only. If the name has 4 or more consonants, take the 1st, 3rd, and 4th consonants.

If the name has 3 consonants or less, take consonants in order, then add vowels if needed. Examples: MARIO → M, R + A → MRA, MARIKA → MRK.

• FRANCESCO → FNC
• JOSEPH → GPP
• LIA → LIA

Step 3 – Encoding Birth Year and Month

Positions 7-8 are the last two digits of the birth year. Then position 9 uses a letter for the month, and letters missing from the month set are F, G, I, N, O, and Q to avoid confusion.

Month	Letter
January	TO
February	B
March	C
April	D
May	AND
June	H
July	THE
August	M
September	P
October	R
November	S
December	T

Step 4 – Encoding Birth Day and Gender

Positions 10-11 encode the day plus gender. Men use the day as-is, from 01 to 31, while women add 40 to the day, making values from 41 to 71.

Date	Gender	Calculation	Result
March 7	Male	07	07
March 7	Female	07 + 40	47
December 31	Female	31 + 40	71

Step 5 – Adding the Belfiore Code of the Birthplace

Positions 12-15 store the Belfiore code, a four-character place code for birth. It uses 1 letter plus 3 numbers for Italian municipalities, while births abroad use Z plus 3 numbers.

• Rome → H501
• Milan → F205
• Naples → F839
• Turin → L219
• Palermo → G273

Abroad examples: Germany → Z112, France → Z110, Albania → Z100. Also, abolished municipalities can keep the old code for births before the change.

Step 6 – Calculating the Control (Check) Character

Position 16 is the control character, also called CIN. It uses odd positions and even positions, converts characters to numeric values using two tables, adds them, divides by 26, and maps the remainder to a letter.

Because manual calculation is complex, use the calculator to avoid mistakes.

Remainder mapping: 0=A, 1=B, … 25=Z.

Practical Example: Full Tax Code Calculation from Scratch

Now apply the steps to Marco Bianchi, born 15 May 1985, in Rome, male. Each step follows the surname, name, year, month, day, Belfiore code, then the control character.

1. Surname BIANCHI → consonants B, N, C → BNC
2. Name MARCO → consonants M, R + A → MRC
3. Year 1985 → 85
4. May → AND
5. Day 15, male → 15
6. Rome Belfiore → H501
7. Control character → X

Final code: BNCMRC85E15H501X.

Special Cases and Exceptions

Special cases change inputs, not the overall idea. So focus on X padding, homocody rules, compound name formatting, and the difference between provisional and official codes.

Short Names and Surnames (X Padding)

Short names and surnames get padded with X. Examples: BO becomes BOX, LI becomes LIX, and RE becomes REX.

• BO → BOX
• LI → LIX
• RE → REX

Homocody – When Two People Share the Same Code

Homocody happens when two people end up with the same code for matching first name, last name, date of birth, and place of birth. In that case, the Revenue Agency replaces one or more numbers with equivalent letters.

Number	Letter
0	THE
1	M
2	N
3	P
4	Q
5	R
6	S
7	T
8	U
9	V

Only the Revenue Agency can assign these modified codes.

Compound Surnames and Double Names

For compound surnames like De Luca or Di Marco, remove spaces and treat all letters as one word. For double given names like Maria Grazia or Giovanni Paolo, only the first given name is used.

Temporary vs. Official Tax Code

A calculated tax code is provisional and generated by online calculators, mainly for checks and consultations. An official tax code is issued by the Revenue Agency and appears on the Health Card for legal purposes.

• Calculated (provisional): informational, not legal
• Official: issued by Revenue Agency, on Health Card

How to Request the Official Tax Code

To get an official tax code, use the right authority based on your situation. So match your case to Italian citizens, foreign citizens, or newborns.

Italian Citizens

Italian citizens can request a tax code to the Revenue Agency using form AA4/8. Also, for newborns, it is assigned at the municipality at the time of birth.

• Valid identity document
• For minors, a parent document

Foreign Citizens

Foreign citizens can apply to the Revenue Agency, or through the Italian consular representation in their country of residence. Also, residents in Italy use residence permit, and abroad use an identity certificate from the consulate.

• Valid passport
• Residence permit (if resident in Italy)
• Consulate-issued identity certificate (for residents abroad)

Newborns

When a child is born, parents register the birth at the Municipal Registry Office. Next, the tax code is assigned automatically and the Health Card arrives at home within a few weeks.

Verifying a Tax Code (Reverse CF)

Reverse tax code verification checks formal correctness and lets you read the birth date, birthplace municipality or state, and gender. It cannot give the exact name or surname.

Check a CF

Summary of the Fundamental Rules

Here are the key rules for calculating your tax code: it has 16 characters, the first 6 come from surname and name, year uses last 2 digits, women add 40 to the birth day, birthplace uses Belfiore codes, and the final control character validates the string.

• 16 characters (alphanumeric)
• Surname and name rules
• Gender day offset (women +40)
• Belfiore code positions 12-15
• Control character at position 16
• Official issuance by Revenue Agency

Frequently Asked Questions