Even prostitution and organization of sexual services now have an ateco code

From April 1st Prostitution and services offered by escorts and companions also have their own ateco code. The new 2025 classification developed by Istat, in force since January but operating since the beginning of the month, inserts these economic activities under the wording “meeting services and similar events”, with the code 96.99.92. A novelty that, if on the one hand aims to bring out a sector of billions of euros from the submerged, on the other raises many questions of a legal nature.

The ATECO Code is an alphanumeric sequence used by Istat to classify the various economic activities, and which serves both for the registration of the VAT number and for statistical purposes. The official description of the code is clear: they are part of the category «Activities related to social life, for example activities of accompanying and escorts (escort), meeting agencies and marriage agencies; Supply or organization of sexual services, organization of prostitution events or management of prostitution premises ». In practice, too activities such as the organization of sexual meetings and the management of places where prostitution is practiced here find their own statistical and potentially fiscal location.

In the previous versions of the Ateco classification, some of the services that are now indicated among those “meeting” were classified under the item “Other personal services (not classified)” to the code 96.09.09, or under the indication “marriage and meeting agencies” with the code 96.09.03. A market, that of prostitution which, according to Istat data, in Italy was worth 4.7 billion euros in 2022, with a growth of 4% in just one year.

The problem is that If prostitution itself is not a crime in Italy – as long as they voluntarily exercised by adult and consenting people – On the other hand, all forms of exploitation, aiding and induction are instead (The crime is punished with imprisonment up to six years and with a fine of up to 10,329 euros). And here the short circuit was born: because if on the one hand the state recognizes prostitution and its organization as an economic activity (complete with a code for the VAT number), on the other it continues to punish criminals who organize or profit from these same activities.

Istat has pointed out: “The implementation of the Ateco 2025 classification at national level will only concern resident economic operators who carry out legal activities”. The Revenue Agency, now that these activities have been coded and recognized fiscally, could contest the non -payment of taxes, as it does with self -employed workers.