For all incoming students who are still in their home country, unless the University can provide it for you, the Tax Code / Codice Fiscale has to be requested at the Consular services office at the nearest Italian Embassy or Consulate. The same procedure applies to foreign professionals.

Usually, the request can be done by email by filling in a request form and attaching the necessary documentation; the certificate of attribution of the fiscal code number will be returned the same way (via email). Double-check with your nearest Italian Consular services office which procedure they adopt: e.g. some consulates with a bigger volume of fiscal services have a department and a dedicated e-mail for that: if in doubt, use the general consular services contact.

Here you can find the Tax Code request form and the instructions. 

1. Download the pdf form AA4/8 and print it, or open it with an app that allows you to fill it in.
2. Tick “Allocation of a tax code”
3. You have to fill part B (personal data – write them exactly as they appear on the ID you provide) and part D (your current address of residence).
4. In part C, you can list your address in Milano -if you already know it- which will act as a domicile for fiscal communications. If you don't have an address in Milano yet, leave it blank. 
5. Under “signatures”, date and place your signature in pen .
6. Send an e-mail to the proper Consulate address, with the application form, signed and scanned and attach a copy of your ID / Passport. 
7. the Consulate will reply with a .pdf tax code certificate, that you can use when needed.

Source: Ministry of foreign affairs

For all incoming International students who are physically in Italy, the Tax Code / Codice Fiscale can be requested to the nearest Revenue Agency office.
 
For Incoming International Students in the Milano area, the application can be done by email according to the following procedure:

Download the AA4/8 pdf application form and open it with a pdf reader (such as the free Adobe Acrobat DC) that allows you to fill it in. Alternatively, you can print it out and fill it in clear capital letters.

1. Starting top left of the form, mark box D DIRECT APPLICATION FOR YOURSELF
    
2. On the right side, same line, under APPLICANT TYPE CODE, choose 1 
    
3. In Section II, mark box 1 ALLOCATION OF A TAX CODE and mark box REQUEST FOR A TAX CODE CARD
    
4. In part B write your personal details (write them exactly as they appear on the ID you will provide). Dates are always in dd/mm/yyyy format
    
5. In part C ("Tax domicile") you can write your Italian address that will act as a domicile for fiscal communications and to receive the plastic tax code card (Please note, it is important to fill this field to get enrolled voluntarily in the National Healthcare System )
    
6. In part D write your current address of residence abroad (in your city of origin or your last registered residence address).
    
7. Print the form before signing. The signature must be done by hand with a pen (see below)
    
8. Under “signatures”, date and sign with your name and surname. Scan the form in a single pdf file.

Now you are ready to send the application over e-mail (see below)

Please note that according to the Revenue Agency the signature on the application form must be handwritten. 

Signatures made digitally (such as with a tablet and pen) are not considered valid.

You can either:

• Fill in the form on your computer, print it out and sign it, then scan it into a Pdf file.
• Print the form and fill in by hand, then scan it into a pdf file

For students with no access to a printing facility, a number of blank paper forms are available at the YESMILANO Tourism Space Via dei Mercanti 8  (click on the link for opening times). The Tourism Space staff does not provide information or help on our topics, you can get a one stop shop appointment or contact us via e-mail.

International students can send an e-mail to any territorial office of the Revenue Agency in the Milano area and get the tax code in return. 

• Scan the application form, signed in pen-on-paper. (All kinds of digital graphic signatures -e.g. with your tablet- are not considered valid).
• Scan and attach also the personal data page of your passport, and the visa page (if applicable)

Choose any one of the revenue office e-mails below and send an e-mail 

We suggest a simple and clear subject and an essential text in the e-mail (the application form is self-explaining):

Subj: Studente internazionale .... Richiesta di attribuzione codice fiscale - Request for a Tax Code - international Student

Body:

Dear sirs/madams,
I am an international Student at... (My University/Academy)
please find attached in application for the issue of my Tax Code /Codice Fiscale: 
- scan of the application form for my tax code, signed 
- scan of passport personal data page
- scan of the entry visa (if applicable).  
Looking forward to your kind reply, 

Regards,

TIPS:

• Make sure that the scans of your documents are easily readable and in .pdf format (easy to open and work with for all offices). You can generate excellent .pdf scan files with most smartphones. They must be real attachments.
• No .zip files and no links to cloud services (most offices have a network security feature that prevents the access to such services).
• Personal data and signature must match the ID you provide, write on the form all the names and surnames that appear on your ID. 
• Stick to the attachments required, unless otherwise requested by the Revenue Agency. Less is more :)
• If your device is compatible, you can click on the links below to get a pre-filled e-mail: you just need to add the attachments.

As a result, the Revenue Agency will reply to your mail with a Tax Code certificate. Average processing times are 5/7 working days.

Attached to the Revenue Agency e-mail you will find a certificate of Tax code, to keep, print out, and show for every usage.

Additionally, central offices will also send you a plastic card with your tax code at the address you mentioned in the Tax Domicile field in a month.

In rare cases, the agency can feedback with the request for more documentation or to go in person to one of their offices.

Please feel free to reach out and share any doubts or unusual outputs with the Yesmilano Team. 

The Italian Revenue Agency / Agenzia Delle Entrate has several territorial offices "uffici territorial" to deal with citizens and businesses, located in various areas of the City and its metro area.

To get your Tax Code it is possible to send an application form by email to any Revenue Agency Office from the list below, regardless of where your domicile is. 
 

• Zone 2, 3 - Ufficio Territoriale Milano 3 email  
   
• Zone 4  - Ufficio territoriale Milano 4 email  
   
• Zones 5, 6 - Ufficio territoriale Milano 5 email 
   
• Zones 7, 8 Ufficio Territoriale Milano 6 email 
   
• Zone 9 - Ufficio territoriale Milano 2 email  
   
• Ufficio Territoriale Cinisello Balsamo email
   
• Ufficio Territoriale Magenta email
   
• Ufficio Territoriale Gorgonzola email 
   
• Ufficio Territoriale Legnano email 
   
• Ufficio Territoriale Rho email 
   
• Zone 1 - Ufficio territoriale Milano 1 email (tip: this office is usually super busy, so it is advisable to contact the other offices)

Source: Here you can find all e-mail of local Revenue Offices in Milan area (first two links of the list) https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/uffici1 Please double check and consult the official site for updates and full details about the operating procedures of each office.

As you probably know, although it can be generated in a "formally correct" way by using unofficial online tools, only Tax codes issued by the Italian Revenue Agency/ Agenzia delle Entrate are valid by law.

Agenzia Delle Entrate, who keeps the tax registry, has a database of the valid tax codes and anyone, including all citizens, public agencies, banks, and private companies can consult it.

A tool is available on their website to check its valifdity: just type your tax code in the Codice Fiscale field, solve the captcha and press the Invia button. 

If the output is CODICE FISCALE VALIDO your tax code is official and valid.

If the output is CODICE FISCALE NON VALIDO (and you didn't misspell it) you need to apply for the valid one to the revenue agency.

A message from the Agenzia della Entrate (Italian Revenue Agency):

Numerous students have encountered obstacles in obtaining the Tax Code (Codice Fiscale) prior to signing a lease agreement. However, it's crucial to note that the Agenzia delle Entrate has clarified that the Tax Code is not a prerequisite for contract registration. This official stance can be effectively communicated to your landlord by presenting the corresponding official statement.

Here's another reference from the professional press.