Practical guide
The condominium's traceable transfer: how to fill it in
The traceable transfer (bonifico parlante) is the payment with which the condominium settles suppliers for works that give rise to a tax deduction, such as renovations and energy efficiency interventions on common parts. It is called traceable because it contains certain mandatory data that allow the bank to apply the advance withholding and the Revenue Agency to link the expense to the requested benefit. If even one of these details is missing or wrong, the right to the deduction may be jeopardised. This guide explains how to correctly complete the condominium's traceable transfer, which information cannot be missing, and how the bank treats the amount paid.
Why the condominium must use the traceable transfer
Deductions for building works on common parts are granted only if payment is made by traceable means and through the specific dedicated bank or postal transfer, that is the traceable transfer. It is the tool that verifiably links the expense borne by the condominium to the payment beneficiary and to the party accruing the deduction, allowing the bank to apply the required withholding.
For works on common parts the beneficiary of the deduction is the condominium, identified by its own tax code, while the shares are then split among the individual owners based on thousandths (millesimi). The traceable transfer is therefore an obligation of the administrator, who pays suppliers on behalf of the condominium: an error in completing it affects all owners who were counting on that deduction.
The mandatory data in the transfer
The traceable transfer must contain certain elements without which the bank does not treat it as an eligible payment. The description must refer to the relevant provision for the requested benefit, for example Article 16-bis of Presidential Decree 917/1986 for the renovation bonus. You must then indicate the tax code of the party benefiting from the deduction and the tax code or VAT number of the payment beneficiary, that is the company carrying out the works.
In the case of works on common parts, in addition to the condominium's tax code you must also indicate that of the administrator arranging the payment. Ensuring an exact match between this data and what is stated on the invoice is fundamental: the bank transmits the information to the Revenue Agency, which uses it to populate the communications on deductible expenses.
- Description with the legal reference of the requested bonus
- Tax code of the condominium (party benefiting from the deduction)
- Tax code of the administrator arranging the payment
- Tax code or VAT number of the supplier carrying out the works
The withholding applied by the bank
When the condominium pays with a traceable transfer, the bank or post office retains an advance withholding on the amount credited to the supplier and pays it to the State on behalf of the recipient. Since 1 March 2024 this withholding is eleven per cent, whereas previously it was eight per cent. It is a deduction made directly by the institution, distinct from the four per cent withholding that the condominium applies as a withholding agent.
It is important not to confuse the two deductions. The bank's withholding on the traceable transfer concerns eligible payments for deductible works and is handled by the credit institution. The four per cent withholding under Article 25-ter of Presidential Decree 600/1973 concerns instead contract fees and is paid by the condominium via F24. When a payment is already subject to the bank withholding on the traceable transfer, the condominium does not also apply its own withholding on the same amount.
Mistakes to avoid so as not to lose the deduction
The most serious mistake is paying the invoice for an eligible intervention with an ordinary transfer rather than a traceable one: in that case the bank does not apply the withholding and the payment is not suitable to support the deduction. Other mistakes concern indicating a wrong tax code, omitting the administrator's tax code for works on common parts, or the absence of the legal reference in the description.
An inaccuracy in the description alone, for example indicating a bonus different from the one actually due, does not necessarily cause loss of the benefit if all other requirements are met, but it is always preferable to complete it precisely from the outset. Before arranging the transfer it is advisable to re-read the invoice and check that every piece of data matches.
How to keep eligible payments in order
A condominium managing extraordinary works often makes several traceable transfers to different suppliers, with progress stages and shares to be split. Keeping an orderly register that links each transfer to the invoice, the intervention and the per-owner shares simplifies both the communication of deductible expenses and the allocation in the year-end statement.
AmministraPro lets you link supplier payments to invoices and to the thousandths-based allocation of expenses, so you always have a ready overview of the transfers made for each eligible intervention. On the /funzioni page you will find the tools dedicated to accounting and bonus management, while at /prezzi you can choose the plan suited to the size of your practice.
Frequently asked questions
Who should be indicated as beneficiary of the deduction in the transfer for works on common parts?
For works on common parts the beneficiary of the deduction is the condominium, identified by its own tax code, not the individual owner. The expense shares are then split among the owners based on thousandths and each deducts their own part. The traceable transfer must indicate the condominium's tax code and also that of the administrator arranging the payment, in addition to the tax code or VAT number of the company. This correspondence allows the Revenue Agency to attribute the expense correctly.
What is the difference between the bank's withholding on the traceable transfer and the four per cent withholding?
They are two distinct deductions. The withholding on the traceable transfer is applied directly by the bank or post office on the amount of payments for deductible works and paid by them on behalf of the supplier; since 1 March 2024 it is eleven per cent. The four per cent withholding under Article 25-ter of Presidential Decree 600/1973 concerns contract fees in general and is paid by the condominium via F24. On a payment already subject to the bank withholding, the condominium does not also apply its own.
What happens if I pay for eligible work with an ordinary transfer?
If payment for an intervention giving the right to a deduction is made with an ordinary transfer rather than the traceable one, the bank does not apply the required withholding and the payment is not suitable to support the deduction. It is one of the most penalising mistakes, because it jeopardises the benefit for all owners. In case of error it is advisable to check remedies with the accountant, but prevention remains the best path: always use the dedicated transfer for eligible expenses.
Does an error in the description cause loss of the deduction?
An inaccuracy limited to the description, for example a reference to a bonus different from the one actually due, does not necessarily entail loss of the benefit if all other requirements of the transfer and the documentation are met. It is therefore not indispensable to redo the payment for a description error alone. It nonetheless remains preferable to complete the description with the correct legal reference from the outset, to avoid disputes and simplify checks.
How do I keep track of all the traceable transfers of a condominium project?
In extraordinary works the condominium often makes several traceable transfers to different companies, with progress stages and shares to split among owners. It is advisable to keep a register linking each transfer to the invoice, the intervention and the per-owner shares. A management platform like AmministraPro links payments to invoices and to the thousandths-based allocation, so the administrator always has a ready overview of eligible payments, useful for the communication of deductible expenses and for the year-end statement.
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