Eight billion euros. This is what Italian companies have yet to collect the public administration for works and services already carried out in 2024. Out of 198 billion euros invoiced, in March 2025 they were paid 189.85, according to the processing of the Cgia di Mestre on MEF data.
A salty account left pending that, for many small companies, means anticipating what the state is late to honor with its own pocket.
PA commercial debts: last Italy in Europe
The most recent data confirm Italy as a tail light in Europe for the amount of PA’s current commercial debts, which reach 58.7 billion euros, equal to 2.7% of GDP.
It is a slight down value compared to 59 billion in 2023, but still well above the EU average (1.6%).
The comparison with the other European states is in fact merciless: in Germany the weight of commercial debts is 1.8%, in France at 1.5%and in Spain just 0.7%. These numbers clearly photograph how much Italy remains distant from its main European partners.
Pay Payment times: the progress of 2024
Last March the billions of debt to SMEs were 15, and in fact it could be worse. In recent years, the PA has significantly shortened the average time to pay off the invoices, thanks to the European legislation of 2013 which imposes a 30 -day and 60 roof for some health supplies.
In 2024, for the first time, the weighted average dropped under this threshold: a favored milestone not only from the rules imposed by the EU, but also from Commercial credits platform (PCC) and the constraints of the PNRR, which prompted the offices to be faster in paying.
The tactics of the PA to seem punctual
The CGIA denounces two widespread practices that allow administrations to maintain a formally regular payments of timely payments. The first consists in welding the most consistent invoices in a short time, referring those of lower value, with criminal effects for micro -enterprises.
The second concerns the control over the moment of issue of the invoice: many managers authorize companies to invoice only when resources are already available, thus avoiding being late but forcing suppliers to postpone the issue date.
Compensation for PA credits and tax debts: the CGIA proposal
To deal with this criticality, the CGIA proposes a simple system, that is, to allow companies to automatically climb from its tax and contributory debts the credits already accrued and certified against the Public Administration.
To give an example, if a company must collect from the PA and simultaneously pay taxes or contributions, the two amounts would compensate immediately, without waiting months or years to receive payments. According to the association, this solution would remove a node that has been suffocating the liquidity of the SMEs for decades and compromises its stability.
Public bodies with the worst delays of payment
Despite the average progress, there are still public bodies that pay with months of delay. Here are the most striking cases in 2024:
- RAP of Palermo and Provincial Health Authority of Crotone – about 88 days beyond the terms of the law;
- Municipality of Cosenza, +57 days;
- ATAC of Rome, +48 days;
- Amat of Palermo, +45 days.
Even the large contracting stations are not exempt:
- Anas, +15 days in the first quarter 2025;
- GSE, +16 days in the same period.
In the ministerial sector:
- Ministry of Labor and Ministry of Health – On average +13 days beyond the deadlines.
