Johnmango

I'll be travelling to Milan/Venice/Florence for work for 2 weeks.

I need to save my food receipts for business claims back home. Is it "customary" to ask for a receipt at the restaurant, trattoria etc.? I realize that if I pay by VISA, I probably can use the customer copy of the VISA as a receipt. But in some places I may pay by cash.

I know it's a dumb question but I've never been to Italy - don't know if waiters will laugh at you for asking for a receipt.

Alec

It's not just possible, by law the restaurants are required to give you a receipt (ricevuta) and you as a customer is obliged to accept it. This is done to clamp down on black economy where the restauranteurs submit a low return to save tax. Both the restaurants and the customer can be fined when no receipt is offered and accepted. I used to hear stories about financial police officers lurking near restaurants and pouncing on departing customers, asking to see a receipt. I think the law used to say you have to carry the receipt for at least 100 metres from the restaurant.
Practically speaking, when you ask for a bill (check) <il conto, per favore>, you will be given an official receipt, even if you pay in cash.

celticdreams

Johnmango -

I travel to Italy for business as well and have to save my receipts. You really do get them everywhere - even if it's just for coffee or a single drink. You end up with a pile of them, but it certainly makes doing your expense report easy!!

jimcolorado

I thought stories about the "receipt police" were a joke until I was stopped just leaving a glass store in Venice by an agent from the Garda di Finanza. He was in plain clothes, spoke impecable English and asked to see my receipt for the item I purchased. He had credentials that looked totally official to me. Also, a liquor store owner that I spoke with in Siena told me that the Garda focus on a particular town for a couple of days, and the shop owners seem to know when they are around.

Johnmango

I guess the stories are true, Financial Police!

I also heard that you may be stopped on the street by the police asking for identification, so that it is wise to have your passport, where you are staying and all the relevant info with you!?

Alice_Twain

"FInancial Police" makes it seem worse than it is. It's just the Italian IRS, the only difference is that they can wear a uniform and, if needed, perform arrests.