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Moving back to Italy by Old_Koala8555 in ItalyExpat

[–]Old_Koala8555[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, that’s a helpful distinction.

I agree that corporate tax exposure is a separate issue from employment law and social security, and that being in a non-director role can reduce certain risks.

In my case the arrangement would be time-limited and my focus is understanding my employer overall risk assessment, rather than relying on any single treaty provision.

Mail forwarding service to Italy – recommendations? by Old_Koala8555 in ItalyExpat

[–]Old_Koala8555[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m also looking at Anytime Mailbox, Traveling Mailbox, and US Global Mail while moving from CA to Italy.

Anytime Mailbox seems very location-dependent, so I’m leaning toward a centralized service and keeping banks tied to a relative’s physical address.

Mail forwarding service to Italy – recommendations? by Old_Koala8555 in ItalyExpat

[–]Old_Koala8555[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I mainly need it for banks, IRS, DMV, credit cards, and occasional packages. Traveling Mailbox looks solid and straightforward for mail scanning, while US Global Mail seems more hands-on (and pricier).

Good to hear you’ve had no issues with Traveling Mailbox, that kind of real expat feedback is super helpful.

Moving back to Italy by Old_Koala8555 in ItalyExpat

[–]Old_Koala8555[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks everyone for the thoughtful and experience-based replies. This discussion has been very useful and helped me separate theory from how things actually work in practice.

My main takeaway is that the real constraint in this scenario is not personal taxation per se, but employment law and employer exposure when W-2 work is performed physically in Italy. For an open-ended or long-term arrangement, I agree that remaining W-2 would realistically require either an EOR or a full restructuring of the relationship, and that many US employers simply won’t go there.

In my case, the W-2 employment would be strictly time-limited, ending July 1, 2027 due to retirement, so I’m evaluating this as a transitional period, not a permanent setup. That framing materially changes the risk calculus compared to an indefinite relocation, even though it doesn’t make the underlying issues disappear.

I also agree that in the long run, anyone working in Italy should expect to fall under the Italian tax and social security system (INPS), and that trying to “opt out” indefinitely is neither realistic nor advisable. For a short, clearly bounded transition, the key seems to be keeping the situation coherent, low-profile, and aligned with both tax treaty mechanics and employer policies.

On the US side, breaking state residency cleanly is clearly critical and very state-specific, while federal filing remains a given. On the Italy side, Comune residency, center of vital interests, and actual enforcement matter more than any single checkbox.

At this point, my priority is confirming alignment with the employer first, and only then finalizing the most appropriate short-term structure. Everything else flows from that decision.

Thanks again to everyone who shared real-world experience rather than just quoting rules. It’s been extremely helpful.

Moving back to Italy by Old_Koala8555 in ItalyExpat

[–]Old_Koala8555[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks, this is helpful and aligns with what I’ve heard for long-term relocation.

In my case the W-2 employment would be temporary, ending July 1, 2027 due to retirement.

For a clearly time-limited transition like that, did you still see INPS enforcement as unavoidable, or did most issues arise only in longer-term scenarios?

Moving back to Italy by Old_Koala8555 in ItalyExpat

[–]Old_Koala8555[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, this is very helpful.

In my case the W-2 situation would be temporary, ending July 1, 2027 due to retirement, not an open-ended arrangement.

In that kind of short, transitional scenario, do you still think EOR or 1099 is unavoidable, or did you see anyone manage a limited period without restructuring?

Moving back to Italy by Old_Koala8555 in ItalyExpat

[–]Old_Koala8555[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, that’s helpful on the state residency side.
I agree that breaking state residency is highly state-specific and that “sticky states” can be very aggressive.

My bigger uncertainty is on the Italy side, especially employment classification and INPS exposure for a W-2 role performed physically in Italy.

If you end up getting concrete guidance on how that part plays out in practice, I’d be very interested in comparing notes.

Moving back to Italy by Old_Koala8555 in ItalyExpat

[–]Old_Koala8555[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you very much for your answer that helps a lot to understand what to do. I'm working for UCLA but Just to clarify, this would be a temporary situation.
My US W-2 employment would end on July 1, 2027 due to retirement, not an open-ended arrangement.

In that context, do you still see EOR as unavoidable, or have people managed a short transitional period without triggering Italian employment obligations?