By monetary policy decision of 11 June 2026, the European Central Bank (ECB) increased, with effect from 17 June 2026, the interest rate on the Eurosystem’s main refinancing operations (MRO) – formerly the Official Reference Rate – from 2.15 to 2.40 percentage points.
Following the increase in the MRO, INPS clarified, by circular message No. 64/2026, that, with effect from 17 June 2026, the rate:
– of interest for i) instalment payment and ii) deferment in relation to the regularisation of contribution debts and statutory ancillary amounts is 4.40% per annum;
– applied for the purpose of determining civil penalties is 7.90%.
As regards payment plans for insurance premium debts and related ancillary amounts, and the penalties imposed in the event of i) evasion and ii) failure to pay, or late payment of, contributions or premiums, INAIL has in turn issued guidance by circular message No. 29/2026.
Interest rate for instalment payment and deferment
With reference to applications for payment by instalments submitted to the competent INPS office after 17 June 2026, the instalment payment interest applied for the purpose of regularising contribution debts is 4.40% per annum.
The previous interest rate continues to apply to repayment plans already issued and notified by the Institute.
Where the Institute authorises deferment of the deadline for payment of compulsory contributions due, the applicable interest rate is 4.40% from the contributions relating to June 2026 (art. 2, para. 11, of Decree-Law No. 338/1989).
Civil penalties
The civil penalties imposed in the event of late or omitted payment of social security contributions are equal to 7.90% (2.40% + 5.5 percentage points) per annum of the amount of compulsory contributions due (art. 116, para. 8, letter a), of Law No. 388/2000).
It remains understood that the increase of 5.5 percentage points does not apply where payment of the contributions or premiums is made within 120 days, in a single payment, voluntarily and before any objections or requests by the assessing bodies (art. 30, para. 1, letter a), of Decree-Law No. 19/2024).
Where the omitted or late payment of the contributions due derives from objective uncertainties connected with conflicting case-law or administrative positions, subsequently resolved in judicial or administrative proceedings, only statutory interest is due (art. 1284 of the Codice Civile), provided that the contributions are paid within the deadline indicated by the assessing bodies (art. 116, para. 10, of Law No. 388/2000).
In this regard, it should be noted that, from 1 January 2026, the statutory interest rate is set at 1.60% per annum (Ministerial Decree of 10 December 2025 and INPS, circular message No. 157/2025).
In the event of contribution evasion, the civil penalty is equal to 30% of the amount of the contributions or premiums not paid by the statutory deadline; in any event, the civil penalty may not exceed 60% of the amount of the contributions due and not paid within the statutory deadlines (art. 116, para. 8, letter b), of Law No. 388/2000).
With effect from 17 June 2026, the civil penalty is set at 7.90% (2.40% + 5.5 percentage points) where the debtor voluntarily reports the debt situation before any objections or requests by the assessing bodies and, in any event, within 12 months of the deadline set for payment of the contributions due, provided that such contributions are actually paid in a single payment within 30 days of the report itself (art. 116, para. 8, letter b), second sentence, of Law No. 388/2000).
Where payment is made in a single instalment within 90 days of the voluntary report, the civil penalty is set at 9.90% per annum (2.40% + 7.5 percentage points).
In any event, the civil penalty may not exceed 40% of the amount of the contributions not paid by the statutory deadline (art. 116, para. 8, letter b), of Law No. 388/2000).
The penalty framework outlined above also applies in the event of omitted or late payment of contributions or insurance premiums.
We remain available for any further clarification.