📅 Updated 28 July 2026
🏷 Italy Fuel Excise · Diesel Refund · HVO · Road Transport
⏱ 5 min read
Italy changed its fuel excise rates several times between March and August 2026. For eligible road transport companies, each change affected the refundable excise on diesel and potentially the effective cost of qualifying HVO.
Key Takeaways
- 19 March–22 May: refundable diesel excise was €69.68 per 1,000 litres.
- 23 May–6 June: refundable diesel excise increased to €169.68 per 1,000 litres.
- 7 June–3 July: refundable diesel excise increased to €219.68 per 1,000 litres.
- 4–27 July: the calculated refundable diesel amount was €269.68 per 1,000 litres.
- 28 July–6 August: the calculated refundable diesel amount was €129.68 per 1,000 litres.
- 30 July–6 August: diesel and qualifying HVO were both taxed at €532.90 per 1,000 litres.
2026 Excise Timeline
Diesel and HVO excise rates from March to August 2026
The following table summarises the excise rates applicable to diesel and HVO, together with the corresponding refundable amount calculated for eligible transport operators.
| Period | Legal measure | Diesel excise | Diesel refund | HVO excise | Calculated HVO refund* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 March–7 April | DL 33/2026 | €472.90 | €69.68 | €617.40 | €214.18 |
| 8 April–1 May | DL 42/2026 | €472.90 | €69.68 | €472.90 | €69.68 |
| 2–22 May | DL 63/2026 and DM 8 May | €472.90 | €69.68 | €617.40 | €214.18 |
| 23 May–6 June | DL 89/2026 | €572.90 | €169.68 | €572.90 | €169.68 |
| 7 June–3 July | DM 5 June 2026 | €622.90 | €219.68 | €617.40 | €214.18 |
| 4–27 July | Return to applicable ordinary diesel rate | €672.90 | €269.68 | €617.40 | €214.18 |
| 28–29 July | DM 27 July 2026 | €532.90 | €129.68 | €617.40 | €214.18 |
| 30 July–6 August | DL 133/2026, Article 1 | €532.90 | €129.68 | €532.90 | €129.68 |
All excise and refund figures in the table are expressed per 1,000 litres.
Important calculation note
The refund figures are calculated by comparing the applicable fuel excise with the professional road transport reference rate of approximately €403.22 per 1,000 litres. The emergency decrees generally state the applicable excise rate rather than separately publishing the resulting refundable amount.
HVO eligibility note
The HVO refund column is a calculated comparison for qualifying HVO used by eligible transport operators. Eligibility should be checked against the applicable Italian professional diesel rules, the product specification and the operator’s supporting documentation. The reviewed excise decrees do not separately state an HVO reimbursement amount.
Diesel Refund
Refundable diesel excise changed five times
For eligible road transport companies, the main refundable diesel amounts applicable during the period covered by this article were:
| Period | Refund per 1,000L | Equivalent per litre |
|---|---|---|
| 19 March–22 May | €69.68 | 6.968 c/L |
| 23 May–6 June | €169.68 | 16.968 c/L |
| 7 June–3 July | €219.68 | 21.968 c/L |
| 4–27 July | €269.68 | 26.968 c/L |
| 28 July–6 August | €129.68 | 12.968 c/L |
HVO Comparison
HVO did not always follow the diesel excise rate
During several periods, diesel and HVO were taxed differently. This means that the effective cost comparison changed depending on the date of refuelling.
| Period | Diesel excise | HVO excise | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 March–7 April | €472.90 | €617.40 | HVO +€144.50 |
| 8 April–1 May | €472.90 | €472.90 | No difference |
| 2–22 May | €472.90 | €617.40 | HVO +€144.50 |
| 23 May–6 June | €572.90 | €572.90 | No difference |
| 7 June–3 July | €622.90 | €617.40 | HVO −€5.50 |
| 4–27 July | €672.90 | €617.40 | HVO −€55.50 |
| 28–29 July | €532.90 | €617.40 | HVO +€84.50 |
| 30 July–6 August | €532.90 | €532.90 | No difference |
July Emergency Measures
What happened after 29 July 2026?
The Ministerial Decree of 27 July reduced diesel excise to €532.90 per 1,000 litres for 28 and 29 July. During those two days, HVO remained at €617.40 per 1,000 litres.
Decree-Law 133/2026 then introduced a separate measure for the period from 30 July to 6 August 2026. Article 1 set the excise rate at €532.90 per 1,000 litres for:
- diesel used as motor fuel;
- qualifying HVO used as motor fuel; and
- qualifying biodiesel covered by the decree.
30 July–6 August 2026
Diesel and HVO excise: €532.90 / 1,000L
Calculated refundable amount: €129.68 / 1,000L
Period covered by this article
Decree-Law 133/2026 specifies the applicable rates only until 6 August 2026. This article does not assume or calculate the rate applicable from 7 August onwards.
Fleet Cost Impact
What transport companies should consider
The lowest pump price does not necessarily produce the lowest effective fuel cost. Transport companies should compare the net result after refundable excise, recoverable VAT, supplier discounts and the applicable fuel tax rate on the date of refuelling.
The changing relationship between diesel and HVO is particularly important. During some periods HVO carried a higher excise rate, while during other periods it had a lower rate or was aligned with diesel.
Companies should retain invoices, fuel card records and vehicle eligibility documentation and separate purchases by the exact date and fuel type when preparing reimbursement calculations.
Legal References
Sources used for this timeline
- Decree-Law 18 March 2026, No. 33.
- Decree-Law 3 April 2026, No. 42.
- Decree-Law 30 April 2026, No. 63.
- Ministerial Decree 8 May 2026.
- Decree-Law 22 May 2026, No. 89.
- Ministerial Decree 5 June 2026.
- Ministerial Decree 27 July 2026.
- Decree-Law 27 July 2026, No. 133, Article 1.
- Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency national excise-rate tables updated during March, April, May, June and July 2026.
Need clarity on how Italian fuel tax changes affect your fleet costs?
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This article is provided for general information. Refund eligibility depends on the operator, vehicle, fuel product and supporting documentation. Official legislation and Italian ADM instructions should be checked before submitting a reimbursement claim.
