The implementing decree for the Transition 5.0 Plan has been officially published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale. Starting from 12:00 PM today, August 7, 2024, the platform is online on the GSE website to activate the procedure. Businesses can now access the GSE portal through SPID and will be guided in managing the required documents according to the decree.
Budget and Financing of the Transition 5.0 Plan
The Transition 5.0 Plan has a total budget of €12.7 billion for the 2024-2025 period. Of this amount, €6.3 billion comes from the RePower EU program and will be specifically allocated to the Transition 5.0 Plan. The remaining €6.4 billion is already allocated in the budget law and will be directed to the Transition 4.0 Plan.
Features and Benefits of the Transition 5.0 Plan
The Transition 5.0 Plan stands out for its automation: businesses will benefit from tax incentives without the need for preliminary procedures and evaluations. The measure is applicable to all productive activities, regardless of size, sector, or location, and can be combined with other incentives funded by national resources, except for the Transizione 4.0 tax credit and incentives for investments in Special Economic Zones (ZES) and Special Logistic Zones (ZLS).
Eligibility Requirements and Incentives
To access the incentives provided by the Transition 5.0 Plan, the projects must involve investments in advanced technological tangible and intangible assets, as outlined in Annexes A and B of the Transition 4.0 Plan. It is necessary to demonstrate an energy consumption reduction of at least 3% for the production unit or 5% for the process affected by the investment. Eligible expenses also include training costs and investments in self-production plants for renewable energy for self-consumption. As already mentioned, key points of the Transition 5.0 Plan include energy interconnection and monitoring, two essential tools for accessing the tax credit.
Details on the Transition 5.0 Plan
The tax credit provided by the Transition 5.0 Plan is up to 45%, divided into 9 brackets based on the investment amount and the energy savings achieved. Investments must be made between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025, with the possibility of completing the documentation by February 28, 2026.
GSE Procedure to Access the Tax Credit for Transition 5.0
Article 12 of the decree outlines the procedure to access the tax credit. Businesses must initially send a preventive communication containing project information and the requested tax credit amount, along with an ex-ante certification (attested expert report) on energy savings goals. After the GSE verifies the details and confirms the availability of resources, it will communicate the reserved tax credit amount to the business within five days. If data is entered incorrectly, the GSE will provide instructions for necessary corrections.
Interim and Final Communication
Within 30 days of receiving the tax credit amount notification, the business must submit an interim communication certifying that at least 20% of the investment has been spent through an advance payment. Subsequently, within five more days, the GSE will communicate the results of the verification. If the investment is lower than initially stated, the bonus will be proportionally reduced.
Final Certifications
At the completion of the investment, or by February 28, 2026, the business must submit a final communication, including certifications regarding compliance with the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), an ex-post certification of the achieved results, an expert report certifying the integration of the purchased assets into the company’s production system, and a financial certification of eligible expenses incurred.
The Transition 5.0 Plan represents a significant opportunity for Italian businesses, with considerable potential impact on their future competitiveness and sustainability. The GSE platform can be accessed [here].