The NISF / INPS (National Institute for Social Welfare) is Italy’s central social security institution for employees. There is no choice between different social security providers in Italy. NISF/INPS is the only statutory social security carrier for employees; private supplementary insurances may be used only as an addition, never as a substitute.
Mandatory insurance
By law, all employees in the private sector – as well as most self-employed workers – must be insured with INPS. The employer registers each employee electronically before the first working day (so-called UniLav notification).
Contributions and financing
Social security contributions to INPS are shared between employer and employee.
The employee pays roughly 10% of the gross salary, and the employer approximately 30%.
The exact rate varies depending on the company’s sector (e.g. craft/industry or commerce) and the classification/position of the employee.
Contributions are calculated on the basis of the actual gross wage.
The obligation to pay contributions ceases only above a contribution ceiling (e.g. approx. € 120,000 in 2025) for “first-time insured persons” from 1996 onwards.
Payment of contributions to INPS takes place monthly.
The deadline is the 16th of the month following the salary month. Payment is made using the unified F24 payment form to the Revenue Agency.
In addition, every month the employer must electronically transmit a detailed breakdown of all employees and paid contributions (the UniEmens declaration) to the institute.
Benefits provided by NISF
The contributions paid are used to finance statutory social benefits, in particular:
- Pensions
- Unemployment benefits
- Sickness benefits
- Maternity benefits
- Wage supplementation schemes
- Family allowances
- etc.
If you need further information or have questions about NISF/INPS, you can
contact the institute directly:
- From Italian landlines: 803 164
- From mobile phones in Italy: 06 164 164
- From Germany: 0800 182 11 38
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