With the approval of the last budget law the Transition Plan 4.0 it has been renovated and strengthened. This year there are therefore a series of very interesting opportunities for those who intend to invest in the enabling technologies for the digitized industry offered by ServiTecno.

The new concessions concern the purchase of capital goods (both software and hardware), training activities on industry 4.0 issues and finally research, development and above all innovation activities.

Purchase of capital goods

As regards the purchase of software and hardware, it is necessary to distinguish between “normal” goods and “4.0” goods.

“Normal” capital goods

For all tangible and intangible capital goods, including industrial PCs, instrumentation of any kind, software licenses, etc., a tax credit equal to 10% of the purchase value accrues with the purchase. The credit can be used in 3 installments of equal amount for as many years and is used as compensation from the first F24 following the moment of delivery and commissioning of the asset. It can be used to offset any payment to the state (withholding taxes, VAT, etc.). If you have a turnover of less than 5 million euros, the entire first year is unloaded.

Example: purchase of an industrial PC for 6.000 euros, accrue a tax credit of 600 euros. If I have less than 5 million in revenues, I use them all as compensation on the first F24; if, on the other hand, I have more than 5 million in revenues a year then I can exploit 200 euros a year for three years.

Smart working increase

If the capital asset is aimed at improving smart working, the above incentive increases to 15%. For example, investments in remote control hardware and software can fall into this category.

Tax code and invoice reason

The code to use in the F24 is “6935”.
In the invoice that you will request from ServiTecno you will have the following wording inserted: “Facilitated instrumental asset pursuant to art. 1, paragraphs 1054 and 1055, law n. 178/2020"

Capital goods “4.0”

The capital goods "4.0" are those indicated in Annex A (tangible assets) and B (intangible assets, or software) of Law 232 of 11 December 2016.

As regards the hardware listed in Annex A, the tax credit is equal to 50% for purchases up to 2,5 million; 30% for the portion between 2,5 and 10 million; 10% for the share of investments between 10 and 20 million.
The “4.0” assets include, for example:

  • wearable devices, communication equipment between operator/operators and production system, augmented reality and virtual reality devices
  • intelligent human-machine interfaces (HMI) that assist the operator for safety and efficiency purposes in machining, maintenance and logistics operations.

As regards the indicated in attachment B, the tax credit is equal to 20% for purchases of up to 1 million euro.

The 4.0 software includes, for example:

  • Software, systems, platforms and applications for the management and coordination of production with high characteristics of integration of service activities, such as factory logistics and maintenance (such as intra-factory communication systems, fieldbus/fieldbus, SCADA systems, MES systems, CMMS systems, innovative solutions with characteristics attributable to the IoT and/or cloud computing paradigms).
  • Software, systems, platforms and applications capable of communicating and sharing data and information both with each other and with the surrounding environment and actors (Industrial Internet of Things) thanks to a network of interconnected intelligent sensors
  • Software, systems, platforms and applications for the intelligence of plants that guarantee energy efficiency and decentralization mechanisms in which the production and/or storage of energy can also be delegated (at least partially) to the factory
  • Software, systems, platforms and applications for the protection of networks, data, programs, machines and systems from attacks, damage and unauthorized access (cybersecurity).

Yes, you read that right: there are practically all the solutions you can buy from ServiTecno!

Interconnection and expertise

For 4.0 goods it is not enough to proceed with the purchase of a good present in annexes A and B, but it is necessary to respect some conditions and requirements (our technicians are at your disposal to help you). For purchases up to €300.000, a declaration from the legal representative is also required, certifying that the asset is actually integrated and interconnected; over 300.000 euros requires a sworn appraisal.

How to use it, tax code and invoice description

The credit must be used in 3 installments of equal amount for as many years and is used in compensation from the first F24 with which you must make any payment to the state (withholding taxes, VAT, etc.). Attention: unlike the tax credit for "normal" goods, for "4.0" goods the benefit does not start at the moment of delivery and commissioning of the good, but from the moment of its "interconnection" to the company information systems .

  • For hardware 4.0 the tribute code to use is the 6936 and the reason to indicate on the purchase invoice is “Facilitated instrumental asset pursuant to art. 1, paragraphs 1056 and 1057, law n. 178/2020".
  • For 4.0 software the tribute code is the 6937 and the reason to indicate on the purchase invoice is “Facilitated instrumental asset pursuant to art. 1, paragraph 1058, law n. 178/2020"
Training 4.0

The law also confirmed the tax credit for training 4.0 to stimulate investment by companies in staff training on subjects concerning technologies relevant to the technological and digital transformation of companies.

It is important to underline that it is possible to train on these issues regardless of the purchase of the 4.0 good. So even if the property has been purchased in recent years or if you intend to do so in the next few years. What better opportunity to train, for example, on advanced HMI interfaces and the latest generation SCADA offered by ServiTecno?

The tax credit is equal to

  • 50% of eligible expenses and within the maximum annual limit of €. 300.000 for small businesses
  • 40% of eligible expenses within the maximum annual limit of €. 250.000 for medium-sized enterprises
  • 30% of eligible expenses within the maximum annual limit of €. 250.000 large companies.

Training activities carried out to acquire or consolidate knowledge of enabling technologies for Industry 4.0 are allowed, including: big data and data analysis, cloud and fog computing, cyber security, cyber-physical systems, rapid prototyping, visualization systems and reality ' augmented, advanced and collaborative robotics, human machine interface, additive manufacturing, internet of things and machines and digital integration of business processes.

The areas admitted are: sales and marketing activities; IT field, including software for the development and management of capital goods 4.0; production techniques and technologies.

With the new law, the eligible costs have been expanded and now include:

  • personnel costs related to trainers for the hours of participation in the training;
  • operating costs of trainers and trainees directly related to the training project, such as travel expenses, materials and supplies directly related to the project, depreciation of tools and equipment to the extent applicable to their exclusive use for the training project. Accommodation costs are excluded, except for the minimum necessary accommodation costs for participants who are workers with disabilities;
  • the costs of consultancy services connected to the training project;
  • personnel costs related to the training participants and indirect overhead costs (administrative costs, rent, overheads) for the hours during which the participants attended the training.
Tax credit for innovation activities

The new budget law increases the rates and ceilings of the tax credit for investments in technological innovation.

  • The tax credit for investments in technological innovation and in aesthetic design and conception goes from 6% to 10% with an increase in the maximum amount of the benefit from 1,5 to 2 million euros;
  • The tax credit for investments in technological innovation aimed at the creation of new or substantially improved products or production processes for the achievement of an ecological transition or digital innovation 4.0 objective goes from 10% to 15% and the ceiling from 1,5, 2 to XNUMX million euros.

This incentive can be used in combination with those seen so far.

A useful example: if you purchase a new supervisory system that allows you to implement a substantially improved production process, you can take advantage of this incentive for the design part as well as the incentive for the purchase of SCADA.