Millions of taxpayers send the pre-compiled form without modifications, convinced that it is already complete. But psychologist, physical therapist, children’s sports, college rent and other deductions often don’t appear automatically. Here’s how to do it
Every year, with a simple click on the “accept” button, millions of Italian taxpayers give up, without knowing it, up to 400 euros in tax refunds. The problem is that pre-compiled tax returns make many citizens believe they have a complete form in front of them, when in fact various deductible expenses are not entered automatically. According to an analysis by FunniFin, a fintech startup specializing in the financial well-being of employees, over 5 million employees accept the pre-filled 730 without modifications every year, unknowingly giving up IRPEF reimbursements of between 150 and 400 euros per year. A figure which, in the long run, can even exceed 4 thousand euros.
The false myth of 730 “already complete”
The whole point is that the pre-compiled 730 does not automatically contain all the deductible expenses incurred by the taxpayer. The Revenue Agency system only imports data transmitted by external parties obliged to communicate: banks, employers, pharmacies, Health Card system and other affiliated bodies. Anything that doesn’t pass through those channels simply risks not appearing.
This is where the most widespread misunderstanding arises. Seeing salary, mortgage and some medical expenses already entered in the form leads many taxpayers to think that the declaration is complete. In reality this is not the case.
The phenomenon especially concerns those who use the simplified model. Data from the Revenue Agency show that in 2024, 52% of employees chose the pre-compiled method and that 42% of these sent the declaration without carrying out any checks or integrations. A choice that does not depend only on haste or laziness, but on a deeper problem of lack of financial education. According to the EduFin Index 2025, only 40% of Italians have financial skills considered sufficient, while approximately 10% find themselves in a situation of full-blown financial illiteracy. In this context, the pre-compiled 730 is perceived as an “automatic” instrument, to be approved without further checks.
The 12 expenses to be deducted that are often missing from the pre-compiled 730
The analysis identified twelve expense categories that frequently do not appear in the pre-compiled declaration and which can significantly impact the final IRPEF reimbursement.
First of all there are the private healthcare costsnot automatically tracked. This category includes sessions with a private psychologist or psychotherapist, the services of physiotherapists and osteopaths who operate without transmission to the healthcare system, but also medical devices purchased online, such as glasses, hearing aids or orthopedic braces. Then there are the veterinary expenses which can be forgotten, despite providing for a 19% deduction on the portion exceeding 129.11 euros up to a maximum of 550 euros.
Another chapter concerns families with children. Many taxpayers do not correctly enter expenses for school canteens, which are deductible at 19% up to 800 euros per child, or those for sports activities for children between 6 and 18 years old, which allow a deduction of 19% up to 210 euros per child.
We then move on to expenses related to home and work. Rents for off-site university students, for example, entitle to a 19% deduction up to 2,633 euros per year, provided the contract is regularly registered. Even those who move for work reasons can obtain a fixed deduction of up to 991.60 euros, while refresher courses and professional training can be deducted up to 210 euros.
Among the most neglected items also appear the public transport passes not digitally uploaded (19% up to 250 euros per year), the expenses for private secondary education courses (19% up to 1000 euros per year) e some insurance premiums for risk of death or permanent disability stipulated before 2001 (19% up to 530 euros).
How to avoid errors and recover your IRPEF refund
The first step to not lose money is consider the pre-compiled 730 as a starting point and not as a definitive declaration. Before sending it is essential to verify all the expenses incurred during the year, comparing the form with receipts, invoices, bank transfers and tax documentation. It is essential to pay close attention to expenses paid outside traditional channels or not automatically communicated to the Revenue Agency. Storing your documents neatly throughout the year can make all the difference when filing.
And then we should inform ourselves. Many taxpayers are simply unaware of which expenses are deductible and which are not. Getting informed, using online simulators or contacting CAFs and professionals can help avoid mistakes that are repeated every year.
