ROME – In a bid to combat Italy’s declining marriage rate, the League political party is proposing wedding tax breaks but only for couples exchanging vows in a church.

 Young couples preferring a civil marriage represent around 46.9 per cent, according to the bill signed by more than 50 deputies. Civil ceremonies are a “less burdensome celebration than religious marriage,” states the bill, which affords couples who wed in church a 20 per cent deduction of the expenses related to religious marriage celebrations.

 The bill recognizes the numerous economic reasons that often stand between a couple and the altar including expenses such as flowers, wedding aisle runner, booklets, wedding attire, catering services, bomboniere, hairdresser and make-up services as well as the photographer.

 Under the proposed law, deductible expenses cannot exceed 20 thousand euros and the maximum tax return on that amount (4,000 euros) is to be paid in five annual installments. 

 Based on 2016 ISTAT figures, in which 107,873 couples wed, the expected overall cost for the wedding bonus should amount to 431,492 euros - assuming each couple were to claim the maximum 4,000 euro deduction. But with the falling rate of marriages, government spending may actually be lower.

 The bonus, however, is only valid for couples under the age of 35 who choose a church ceremony and present an Isee (indicator of economic situation) not exceeding 23,000 euros. A further clause states ceremonies must be held on Italian territory and spouses must have been Italian citizens for at least 10 years.

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