Hyper-depreciation 2026: A tax incentive for refrigeration investments

With the entry into force of the 2026 Budget Law , the hyper-depreciation tool returns to Italy, a tax measure that offers companies a concrete incentive to accelerate investments in capital goods.

For the HVAC/R sector, and in particular for commercial and industrial refrigeration , this incentive represents a significant opportunity to improve system efficiency, renew equipment and support the technological modernization of facilities , with positive impacts on competitiveness and economic sustainability.

How hyper-depreciation works and what changes it will have for the sector

The 2026 hyper-depreciation allows companies to increase the fiscal cost of purchasing capital goods , increasing the deductible portions for IRES/IRPEF purposes compared to the actual value incurred.

For investments made between January 1, 2026, and September 30, 2028 , the tax increase can reach up to 180% of the cost of the asset, depending on the amount invested and the nature of the equipment purchased. This mechanism allows companies to reduce their taxable base and therefore their income tax burden, improving the financial sustainability of investment projects and freeing up resources to dedicate to other plant interventions.

For the refrigeration sector, hyper-depreciation also applies to investments in new equipment produced in the EU or the European Economic Area , making new systems, components and technological solutions that contribute to improving the performance, efficiency and sustainability of HVAC/R systems eligible for tax relief.

Benefits and development scenarios for HVAC/R

The adoption of hyper-depreciation as a fiscal tool could have concrete implications for various aspects of the refrigeration industry.

From a technical and plant engineering point of view, facilitating the replacement or updating of obsolete equipment encourages the adoption of more efficient and less energy-intensive solutions , reducing operating costs on a multi-year scale.

From an economic perspective, the ability to deduct a greater portion of investment costs allows companies to plan structured projects with a more favorable tax impact, improving their ability to access credit and overall financial sustainability.

Furthermore, hyper-depreciation can foster technological innovation in the sector, stimulating the adoption of tools and systems equipped with digitalization, automation, and advanced control systems, aspects that are increasingly important for ensuring high performance in commercial and industrial refrigeration systems.

Operational opportunities and considerations for professionals

To fully reap the benefits of hyper-depreciation, designers, suppliers, and operators in the HVAC/R sector must consider several operational aspects: the investment date , determined by the delivery, shipment, or transfer of ownership of the asset, is essential to qualify the investment as eligible; it is then necessary to verify that the equipment falls within the capital goods permitted by the legislation and that it complies with the required technical requirements.

In a context where competitiveness also depends on tax optimization and plant modernization, the 2026 hyper-depreciation program could become a concrete lever to support investments in the refrigeration sector, encouraging a process of technological renewal and increasing the overall efficiency of the sector's plant fleet.