The practice of the 110% Superbonus, as an architectural service, has become a hot and constantly evolving topic in the last year. Introduced by Relaunch Decree No. 34/2020, converted into Law No. 77 of July 17, 2020, it concerns a tax relief that allows for the full deduction of energy/seismic efficiency works, and actually provides a 10% surplus return.
One of the fundamental differences compared to the traditional 50% renovation bonus is that the user is no longer required to verify the price. For example, if a window or door costs €10,000, in the case of a 50% bonus, the user would still be required to pay 50% of the amount. With the Superbonus, the user may not even care about the actual cost of the deductible work.
In this regard, the law establishes two cost limits:
On the one hand, spending caps for specific categories of works;
On the other, the introduction of the requirement to refer to a national price list.
This process is somewhat inherited from the world of public works, through a tender process that draws up specifications based on a price list. This price list provides a reference price to be used as a starting price, subject to reduction by the companies participating in the tender.
Each price list is updated systematically approximately every six months, so we will have DEI 2014 price lists and DEI 2015 price lists, which no longer make sense to use as they are outdated. The current DEI 2021 first semester price list, the most up-to-date, takes into account the evolution of construction costs, which are subject to variations due, for example, to increases in raw materials prices or particular market conditions. In the private sector, the price list serves as a reference as the maximum price applicable for the deduction.
One of the key elements required by the 110% Superbonus regulations is the compilation, by a qualified professional, of the bill of quantities, i.e., the document that certifies and defines the construction costs of a project. This stipulates that when drafting the specifications, the professional must refer to the price list, as they would for a public project.
The bill of quantities is simply the cost estimate derived from the sum of the costs of the works (as per the price list items) for a specific project.
What are DEI price lists and what are they?
The MISE Decree of August 6, 2020, in point 13 of Annex A, identified the price lists to be used as the basis for these cost estimates. Generally, the costs for these construction projects must be less than or equal to the average prices for the same projects reported either in the regional price lists or in the national price lists, better defined as “Informative Construction Price Lists,” published by DEI.
There are six DEI price lists in total, each dedicated to a specific area of application: technological systems, new construction, recovery, renovation, and maintenance, urbanization, environmental infrastructure, electrical systems, and finally architecture and interior design. It is no coincidence that the continued push by construction materials manufacturers has resulted in some items included in the DEI price list becoming increasingly similar to the products they manufacture.
It is important to clarify, as ENEA also establishes, that the prices listed in these manuals are not the applicable prices, but rather the maximum applicable value. Indeed, these prices are derived from a careful analysis of the composition of basic resources (raw materials and labor), freight, and semi-finished products (mortars and concrete mixes). It should also be noted that the indicated price includes all the equipment the contractor must have in its construction site organization. Furthermore, the prices listed in the price lists, such as those for labor or raw materials, are the result of an average derived from price lists provided by various manufacturers, distributed throughout the country.
Therefore, it is the responsibility of the appointed technician to produce the relevant documentation, estimate, and price list, and to verify that the costs of the contracted company are lower than or equal to those established in the price lists.
The importance of DEI
With the introduction of the 110% Superbonus, the price list has assumed a fundamental role in preparing the bill of quantities. This document is always mandatory to determine the amount of the deduction eligible for the Superbonus, with the exception of certain cases, as ENEA points out, when the work can be fully compliant with the MISE Requirements Decree of 06/08/2020. In these cases, a simple declaration signed by the supplier or installer will suffice. In all other cases, however, where different and more complex work is involved, or where different factors need to be considered, a price analysis with the bill of quantities is mandatory to claim the 110% Superbonus.
This document must be prepared by a qualified technician who will handle the entire process. This price analysis will be conducted taking into account the maximum allowable prices, i.e., unit prices, which cannot exceed the price of the work completed, and with reference to the DEI price lists, which therefore become the fundamental basis for the entire cost of the work. Each item and construction cost must refer to the fee contained within the price list. If it is not possible for the professional to identify the individual unit price, they can establish new prices by proceeding analytically and describing them in detail as “additional” work.
In this way, the DEI price list becomes the basic and essential tool for the construction project.
The topic covered in this article is complex and nuanced, with many nuances to be addressed and analyzed. Inside Project offers its training and professionalism to help clients obtain this bonus.