Italy real estate agent fees: both buyer and seller pay.
// Short answer
In Italy the agent (mediatore) is owed a commission by each party once the sale is concluded through them, so buyer and seller both pay. No national rate is set: the amount is agreed, and without an agreement it follows local custom, which each chamber of commerce publishes. In Pistoia, for example, the published custom is 2% plus tax from each side. VAT at 22% is added.
Where agent commission is capped, who pays it and the VAT, in twenty-one countries side by side: real estate agent fees by country.
Rules and rates as of October 2026.
On this page
How much does an Italian estate agent charge?
No national rate. The commission is agreed; without an agreement, the chamber of commerce boards fix it taking local customs into account. Only agents entered in the chamber's register are entitled to a commission at all.
As one example, the Pistoia chamber of commerce's published customs (2011 edition) set 2% plus tax from the seller and 2% from the buyer, and note that many local agencies charge 3% each. Customs differ by province, so ask for the figure in writing. Every other cost: Italy property buying costs.
Sources
Who pays the estate agent in Italy, buyer or seller?
Both. Under article 1755 of the Civil Code the agent is entitled to a commission from each party once the deal is concluded through their work.
So a foreign buyer should expect an agent's fee of their own, not only the seller's.
Is VAT charged on agent fees in Italy?
Yes, at Italy's standard rate of 22%.
Taxes once you own: Italy property tax for foreigners.
Italy agent guide
Choosing an agent in Italy? The questions to ask first
The agent can charge both sides, usually from the preliminary. The 12 questions, the register check, local fee custom, the caparra, the notary's escrow, a first-call script and a worksheet in euros.
How do I check an Italian estate agent?
The old agents' roll was abolished in 2010. Agents now notify the chamber of commerce, which checks the requirements and enters them in the companies register (Registro delle Imprese) or its register of economic activities (REA).
Ask for the registration details and check them before paying a deposit. The land record to read: the visura catastale explained.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays the estate agent in Italy?
What is the typical agent commission in Italy?
Is there VAT on estate agent fees in Italy?
Do Italian estate agents need to be registered?
Header photo: Francesco Ungaro, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. All credits: image credits.