OBS_VALUE: The universal postal services, provided by the Universal Service Provider (Poste Italiane) are exempt by law from VAT only.  Treatment of grant: The burden of the provision of universal service is financed through:A) transfer of public funds; the amount is calculated with the methodology of “net cost” calculation, regulated by law, and is quantified in the program contract between the Ministry of Economic Development and the universal service provider. B) Through the compensation fund pursuant to art. 10 of Legislative Decree 261/1999.                                               According to Article 132(1)(a) of Directive 2006/112/EC of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax Member States shall exempt the supply by the public postal services of services other than passenger transport and telecommunications services, and the supply of goods incidental thereto from the VAT