Penny's activity

My plasterer husband says you can do it either way but here (as Adriatica says) they plaster first, then fix the windows in using an expanding foam. Then the excess foam is cut back and you fill/point around the gap and there is no need to replaster, it will be ready to paint.

There is an excellent, trustworthy jewellers in Porto San Giorgio we have used who I would recommend. He makes his own jewellery too so I would imagine he would buy stuff:

Gioielleria 18 Carati Di Campagna G. Gioielleria Oreficeria

63017 Porto San Giorgio (FM)26, VIA SIMONETTI FAUSTOtel: 0734 673257

It's normal. You have to do it for geometra's too.

Would have loved to but can't make it I'm afraid. It'll be the TV for us!!

Can't tell you why the commercialista said what he did (maybe he was just thinking "how will the taxman in Italy ever know") but my understanding is that every resident in Italy needs to complete a tax return here unless their income is under a certain limit (I can't remember what it is but it was very low - a few hundred euros maybe).I think where Brits gets confused is that in the UK, only the self-employed, business owners and people with more than one income need to fill out a tax return. In Italy like a lot of other contries, everyone fills out a tax return, regardless of your type of employment. Therefore it doesn't automatically occur to us to fill one out here.I would have thought the double taxation treaty would apply to you if you are paing UK tax so there shouldn't be any tax due in Italy but technically you should still complete a return in Italy. The obligation to complete a tax return in the country of residence has always been there so it didn't  "come in" as such. I have no idea what would happen if you "own up". Personally I would be tempted to do it from this year onwards and forget the rest. You need to look at the probability of the taxman investigating a person who starts completing a tax return (not too likely) versus someone who says oops - I should have started 5 years ago Mr Taxman (more likely).IMHO at some point the taxman will wonder what you are living on and look a little deeper. Having said all this, I know plenty of people who don't complete a tax return here, haven't for years and have never had any problems. Your choice really.Why don't you contact Michael Murphy as he specialises in this stuff?

It'd be great if there was a hindsight pill. We'd all be saving money!

Interesting but I still can't see the italian tax man saying "Oh - it's tax free in the UK. That's alright then. You don't have to pay it here then." I may be being pessimistic but I've had enough dealings with the Italian tax man to know they take everywhere they can! You need specific advice as to how it would be treated in Italy not the UK.

Different region though Gromit. Also, there are a lot more foreign investors in Tuscany than Marche.

Hmmm - it says "when you return". This implies your period abroad is temporary which if you become permanently resident in Italy it is not. I personally would not rely on that meaning you will still benefit from tax free interest and definitley check it with an accountant and preferably one that knows about Italian tax rules too.

I was talking to someone about why it takes sooo many years to gain your degree in Italy and my friend explained that the degree courses are barely tought and the emphasis is on self-study with very little guidance. Also the range of classes taken for a degree is huge. My friend's opinion is that it is completely impossible to complete an Italian degree in 3 years. I am sure that doesn't help either.