The tilting is now encrypted. According to new figures published yesterday by Il MessaggeroTunisia stands out as the second favorite destination for Italian retirees abroad, behind Spain. A trend started a few years ago, but which today takes on a structural dimension, especially in the coastal city of Hammamet.
Between 2019 and 2023, Nearly 1,000 Italian retirees transferred their tax residence to Tunisia. But it is especially the figure of 2023 that calls out: the INPS (Italian pension fund) paid there 87 million euroswith a Average monthly amount of 3,564 euros per pensioneran absolute record in the region.
Hammamet concentrates a significant part of this community, with more than 4,000 Italian retirees identified – about approximately 8 % of the local population. A figure which confirms the fiscal attractiveness of this city and the consolidation of a form of gray migrationneither economic nor humanitarian, but fiscal.
A tailor -made taxation
Tunisian law authorizes a 80 % exemption from pension income perceived from abroad. Only 20 % are taxable, according to a progressive scale whosemaximum tax does not exceed 35 %. The head of the family also benefits from an additional deduction.
But the most strategic asset of Tunisia remains the exception it constitutes for the Former Italian officials. While the latter cannot generally benefit from tax exemption in other European countries (Portugal, Spain, etc.), they benefit from it in Tunisia. Result : 63 % of Italian retirees installed in Hammamet in 2023 came from the public service.
The fall of Portugal, the rise of Tunisia
The phenomenon is part of a regional rebalancing. Long in mind, Portugal has abolished his special tax regime in 2024causing a Fall of more than 80 % new Italian arrivals. The country is still the first in total value of pensions paid (€ 157.4 million), but it is an inertia effect.
Now these are Tunisia, Spain, Romania and Albania which share the new flows. These last two countries offer very attractive systems: Total exemption in AlbaniaAnd 10 % package on foreign pensions in Romania.
The growing installation of foreign retirees in Tunisia – concentrated on areas like Hammamet, Sousse or Monastir – supplies real estate request and stimulates certain segments of the local economy, including Medical, paramedical and tourist services year -round.
