Commentary on Judgment No. 46354 of 2024: Undue Perception of Public Grants and Building Bonuses

Judgment No. 46354 of October 29, 2024, issued by the Court of Cassation, provides an important interpretation regarding crimes related to the undue perception of public grants, particularly concerning the so-called "building bonuses." The central issue pertains to the configurability of such a crime in the presence of a false self-declaration, and the Court has clarified some fundamental aspects.

The Regulatory Context

Italian law provides specific rules for the regulation of building bonuses, such as Decree Law 19/05/2020 No. 34, which introduced incentives for the renovation and energy efficiency of buildings. However, the application of such rules has raised doubts and controversies, especially regarding the truthfulness of the self-declarations submitted by users to obtain tax credits.

The Judgment and Its Significance

“Building Bonuses” - Acquisition of tax credit based on false self-declaration - Crime of undue perception of public grants - Configurability - Differential traits from the crime of fraud under Article 640-bis of the Penal Code. The acquisition of the tax credit related to the so-called "building bonuses," obtained based on a false self-declaration regarding the execution of works, constitutes the crime of undue perception of public grants and not that of aggravated fraud under Article 640-bis of the Penal Code, as it lacks both the deceptive element, given that the control by the Revenue Agency occurs after the grant, and the financial damage to the State, which only materializes when the transferred credits are actually collected or offset, and is therefore a subsequent and eventual event compared to the undue acquisition of the tax benefit. (In the reasoning, the Court specified that the option to transfer the credit nonetheless presupposes the issuance of invoices documenting expenses related to works or supplies actually carried out, even if, for tax benefits other than the so-called "superbonus" at 110%, the presentation of progress reports can be omitted).

The Court, addressing the issue of the distinction between undue perception of public grants and fraud, emphasized that in the specific case of the false self-declaration for building bonuses, two fundamental elements are lacking to configure the crime of fraud. Firstly, the deceptive element, as the control by the Revenue Agency occurs after the grant of the credit. Secondly, the financial damage to the State occurs only at a later stage, when the credits are actually collected.

Practical Implications and Conclusions

This judgment has significant repercussions for taxpayers and professionals in the sector, as it clarifies that the mere presentation of a false self-declaration does not automatically constitute the crime of fraud. However, it is essential to emphasize that the undue acquisition of a tax credit can still configure the crime of undue perception of public grants, with the related criminal penalties. Therefore, it is crucial for citizens and businesses to pay attention to the documentation and the truthfulness of the declarations submitted.

In conclusion, Judgment No. 46354 of 2024 represents a significant step in Italian jurisprudence regarding crimes against public administration and offers a point of reflection on the importance of correctness in tax and bureaucratic practices.

Bianucci Law Firm