fisco

Fisco is a term most commonly associated with Italian language and law, where it denotes the system of taxation and the public revenue of a government. Etymologically, it derives from Latin fiscus, originally the name of the imperial treasury and also the basket used by tax collectors; over time the word came to refer to the treasury itself as a financial institution.

In modern Italy, il fisco is the informal name for the tax authorities and the taxation system. The phrase is widely used in media and public discourse to refer to tax collection, compliance, and fiscal policy. The principal agency responsible for tax collection in Italy is the Agenzia delle Entrate, and discussions of the fisco commonly involve issues such as tax rates, audits, and revenue management.

Outside Italy, the term fisco is not commonly used in English or other languages, though the root is visible in cognate terms such as fiscal, finance, and fiscal policy. In some contexts, fisco may appear as a proper noun in names or local designations, but it is not common as a geographic or organizational name.

For related concepts, see fiscus (historical treasury) and fiscal policy.