At 22, a young influencer from Cattolica (Rimini) managed to earn €300,000 in three years with short product videos on social media. Earnings she never paid taxes on, however.
The financiers of the Cattolica branch (Rimini provincial command) discovered the young woman's lucrative business, having been chosen by two Chinese multinational clothing and home goods companies to boost online purchases.
The Guardia di Finanza (Italian Finance Police) recently completed a tax audit of the young influencer by cross-referencing data from bank accounts, databases, and so-called "open sources"—namely, websites and social media—available online. The investigation uncovered approximately €300,000 in earnings for the period 2021-2024. The influencer received these earnings from various digital platforms, but these were not taxable. The young woman was therefore reported to the Revenue Agency for recovery of the amounts owed and the assessment of the applicable administrative penalties.
The twenty-two-year-old primarily uses Instagram and YouTube, as well as TikTok , and has racked up millions of views. She received payments from companies via bank transfers or in products.
"Tax evasion in the digital economy represents one of the most significant challenges for the tax system today," explains the Rimini provincial command, led by Colonel Alessandro Coscarelli. "The rapidity of online transactions and the absence of physical borders make constant and highly specialized monitoring essential. Through operations like this, the Guardia di Finanza confirms its role in upholding economic and financial legality, with the aim of ensuring a more equitable distribution of the tax burden and protecting honest taxpayers."
For now, the young influencer from Cattolica has avoided being investigated. If she gets in compliance with the Revenue Agency's regulations, and given that her taxable income is below the criminally relevant threshold, she'll get away with paying the amount owed to the state and a fine.
