Thanks to its strategic geographic location, stable economy and human capital resources, the Czech Republic is an attractive destination for foreign investors who are planning to enter the European market or expand their businesses to more countries in the region.
The Czech workforce is known-to be well-educated, skilled and multi-lingual, consisting of both local and foreign professionals. On the other hand, the wages are relatively low compared to Western Europe.
In general, around 37% of the economically active population is employed in industries, which is the highest ratio among EU countries. The largest part works in the automotive industry (about 180,000 employees), on the second place ranks the service industry with 60% of employees. In comparison, the agriculture sector employs only about 2% of the economically active. Another interesting fact is that the Czech Republic has the most self-employed (OSVČ) per capita in Europe, about 9%.
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Industries
Industrial production has a long tradition in the Czech Republic as well as significant position – it accounts for more than one third of the Czech economy. The most important industries include mechanical engineering and especially the automotive and transport industry. In addition to the production of cars and trucks, led by Škoda, buses, trams and airplanes are also produced in the Czech Republic. Furthermore, the chemical, food, metallurgical and consumer industries form substantial part of Czech manufacturing. The fast-growing industry is construction.
Of interest is the exceptional position of nanotechnologies. The field is developing incredibly fast and encourages the creation of new scientific workplaces. The Czech Republic has been one of the world’s leaders of nanotechnology in industry and consumer goods for many years. The production of various nanofibers and nano fabrics is common, but also the use of nanotechnologies in nanooptics.
In recent years, information and communication technologies (ICT) have come to the forefront, as in many other countries. However, they are hampered by a shortage of qualified IT professionals.
Tourism is also an important sector of the Czech economy. The capital city of Prague has long been one of the most visited cities in Europe, and other tourist regions are also attractive. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic and related measures, the number of tourists visiting Czech Republic has dropped dramatically – as it has everywhere else in the world. However, tourists are returning and reviving this economic sector.
Within the industry department, the automotive industry is the most prevalent, it generates circa 9% of country’s GDP, 26% of Czech construction and 24% of Czech export. Within the services department accommodation, food and hospitality industries have traditionally been the most dominant. However, information & communication services as well as transportation & storage are quickly catching up. Overall, the services industry enjoyed year-over-year growth of 12,5% in 2021-22 (even after adjusting for seasonal effects).
Investment incentives
The Czech Republic offers a wide range of investment incentives for various economy sectors.
All investment-incentive applications are assessed and approved by the government, which takes into account especially the benefits for the given region and the state. In practice, this means that all investment-incentive applicants must quantify their anticipated contributions to public budgets and their impact on the labour market in their applications. In addition to that, they must also describe the means by which they intend to incorporate research and development into their activities and to cooperate with research institutes and schools, and how they will utilise the potential of local suppliers and contribute to the development of the local infrastructure.
Company formation
Czech as well as foreign investors entering the Czech market may choose between several corporate forms. There are no limitations for foreign investors when it comes to setting up companies, both enjoy identical rights and obligations.
Limited liability company
The most common legal form is a limited liability company (or LLC in short). The minimum contribution of each shareholder is in the amount of CZK 1. The limited liability company is suitable for the vast majority of business activities and plans, multiple investors can be easily involved. An executive director can be of any nationality and there is no need to have employees.
Incorporation
It can be incorporated under the Powers of Attorney granted to us, thus the personal presence of the directors / shareholders in the Czech Republic is not needed during the incorporation process.
Documents required for the incorporation process would involve Criminal Record and the Affidavit from the executive director and an extract from the Commercial Register if the shareholder is a legal entity.
The incorporation time for an LLC are 1 to 2 weeks from the receipt of all required powers of attorney and other documents.
The fee for establishing a limited liability company is EUR 800 excl. VAT and additional costs, such as notary and trade license fees, amounting to approximately 450 EUR. Translation fees depend on the number of pages to be translated and the language. The fees for arranging the registered office depend on the provider. If the registered office is set up with Accace, the implementation fee amounts to 110 EUR (excl. VAT) and a monthly fee is 90 EUR (excl. VAT).
To set up an LLC, at least one shareholder (either a natural person or a legal entity) and at least one director is required (which can be the same person as the shareholder). If more directors are appointed, it can be established in the Memorandum of Association whether they are authorised to act in their single capacity or jointly. Further conditions may be formed, e.g., the directors acting jointly if the acts concern financial obligations exceeding certain amount or certain acts may be defined to require the consent of the General Meeting.
The Commercial Register in the Czech Republic is administered by the Registry Courts, and it is public, accessible at www.justice.cz. At the moment, the Register is available only in Czech. You can directly download an electronically signed extract (either a current one or a full history extract) for free.
Corporate taxes
Corporate income tax
Corporate income tax (CIT) applies to the profits generated by all companies, including branches of foreign companies. Corporate partners in general partnerships (i.e., unlimited) and corporate general partners (i.e., unlimited) in a limited partnership are subject to CIT on their share of the profits in the partnership.
Czech resident companies are required to pay CIT on income derived from worldwide sources. Non-resident companies are required to pay CIT on income sourced in the Czech Republic.
- 19% is the CIT rate and applies to all business profits, including capital gains from the sale of shares (if not exempt under the participation exemption regime)
- 15% is a special CIT rate levied on dividend income of Czech tax resident entities from non-resident entities (unless subject to participation exemption)
- 5% reduced CIT rate applies to income of certain investment funds
- 0% CIT rate applies to pension funds
Tax residence
A company is resident in the Czech Republic for CIT purposes if it:
Permanent establishment (PE)
Under domestic law, the creation of a PE of a foreign tax resident in the Czech Republic is triggered by a fixed place available for carrying out business activities, long-term provision of services (for more than six months in any 12 consecutive months), or presence of a dependent agent, unless an applicable double taxation treaty (DTT) stipulates otherwise. For interpretation purposes, the commentary OECD Model Tax Convention is followed. The Czech Republic tends to have a ‘service PE’ clause (i.e., clause stipulating that a PE is created by provision of services on the territory of the Czech Republic even without the existence of a fixed place of business) included in its DTTs.
It is possible to request the tax authority for a legally binding ruling confirming a chosen method of determination of the CIT base of the PE.
Corporate income tax base determination
The accounting result as per the Czech accounting standards represents the base for corporate income tax base determination. Companies keeping books of accounts under the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are liable to recalculate the accounting result to follow the rules of the Czech accounting standards.
The accounting result is subsequently modified by tax non-deductible expenses and non-taxable revenues as specified by the income tax legislation.
General tax deductibility rule
Expenses may generally be treated as tax deductible provided that the following conditions are met:
- the expenses must be incurred to generate, assure and maintain the taxable income,
- the incurred expenses relate in nature and timing to the period,
- the taxpayer must be able to prove that a supply for which he incurred expenses was really provided to him,
- the taxpayer must be able to prove that a link exists between expense and income.
Tax losses
Tax losses determined for the tax period may be carried forward to offset tax profits for five immediately following taxable periods. The amount of the tax losses that may be carried forward is not limited. Starting from 2020 tax losses may be carried back for two immediately preceding tax periods. The maximum amount of the tax losses to be carried back is CZK 30 million.
Capital gains
No separate capital gain tax is applied in the Czech Republic. Revenues from sale of shares form part of regular corporate income tax base of the tax period in which the gain is realised (provided that the capital gain is not exempt from taxation under the participation exemption).
Dividend income
Dividends received by Czech tax resident corporations from non-resident entities are subject to a special tax rate of 15% (unless exempt from taxation under the participation exemption).
Dividends paid by Czech tax resident corporations to Czech resident entities are subject to 15% final withholding tax (or WHT, in short), unless exempt from taxation under the participation exemption.
Dividends paid by Czech tax resident corporations to Czech non-resident entities are subject to 15% final WHT, unless exempt under the participation exemption or unless the applicable WHT rate is reduced by the relevant DTT. An increased WHT rate of 35% applies to dividends paid to entities that are not tax residents in any EU or European Economic Area member state or in a country with which the Czech Republic concluded a DTT or agreement on exchange of information in tax area.
Participation exemption
Income generated from sale of shares or dividend income may be exempt from taxation in the Czech Republic provided that the following criteria are met:
- The parent entity (Czech or EU tax resident) holds at least 10% shares of the subsidiary for a minimum period of 12 months (this time test may also be fulfilled in the future period).
- The subsidiary is tax resident of the Czech Republic or other EU member state.
- The parent entity and the subsidiary are both of a specific legal from listed in the Annex to the Parent/Subsidiary Directive.
- Neither the parent or the subsidiary entity is exempt from corporate income tax or may vote for corporate income tax exemption.
Provided that the above conditions are fulfilled, withholding tax exemption on dividend income applies also to a situation when Czech subsidiary pays dividends to parent entity being tax resident in Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein or Iceland.
In case of dividends or capital gains received by a Czech parent company, the participation exemption may be applied in a situation when the subsidiary is a tax resident of a country which concluded a DTT with the Czech Republic, the subsidiary has a legal from similar to a limited liability/joint stock company, it is subject to a corporate income tax at the minimum nominal rate of 12% in the year in which the dividends are paid and in the preceding year, and the time test of holding at least 10% share for at least 12 consecutive calendar months in that subsidiary is met.
Interest and royalty income
Interest and royalties received by Czech tax residents are included in the standard tax base subject to the 19% CIT rate.
Czech-source interest and royalty income received by Czech tax non-residents is subject to 15% WHT, unless subject to tax exemption or reduced withholding tax rate applicable under the relevant DTT. An increased WHT rate of 35% applies to interest and royalties paid by Czech tax residents to entities that are not tax residents in any EU or EEA member state or in a country with which the Czech Republic concluded a DTT or agreement on exchange of information in tax area.
Arising based on the EU Interest and Royalty Directive which was incorporated into the domestic legislation interest and/or royalty income is exempt if it is paid by a Czech resident to an EU resident recipient who is a beneficial owner of the interest and/or royalty income, provided that for at least 24 months before the payment:
- the payer is in at least a 25% parent – subsidiary relationship or at least 25% direct sister relationship to the recipient of the income,
- the interest or the royalty is not attributable to a Czech permanent establishment of the recipient and
- the application of the withholding tax exemption was confirmed by a decision issued by Czech tax authorities.
VAT
VAT is generally charged at 21% on supplies of goods and services within the Czech Republic. Certain supplies (e.g., groceries, construction works related to social housing) are taxed at a rate of 15%, and a second reduced rate of 10% is applicable for specified categories of goods (e.g., books, newspapers, medicines, supply of heat and cold, catering services, drinking water, clothing and shoe repairs, hotel accommodation or cultural and sport facilities).
VAT registration
Companies seated in the Czech Republic whose turnover exceeds 2 million CZK in any consecutive 12-month period are liable to register as a VAT payer.
For non-resident companies no registration threshold applies. These are, however, liable to VAT registration if they:
- carry out a supply that is subject to Czech VAT (unless the liability to declare and pay VAT is transferred to the recipient of the supply), or
- supply goods from the Czech Republic to another EU member state.
A company can register as a VAT payer voluntarily even if its turnover does not reach the threshold if it renders or is going to render taxable supplies or VAT exempt supplies with an entitlement for VAT refund in the Czech Republic.
Under certain circumstances, companies that are not VAT registered in the Czech Republic may become so called VAT identified persons if they acquire goods or services from EU or third countries. VAT identified person is liable to pay VAT from received supplies but is not entitled to VAT deduction.
VAT returns
VAT returns must be filed, and VAT liability paid within 25 days from the end of the taxable period. The taxable period is a calendar month or, under specific circumstances, a calendar quarter. An essential and inseparable part of the VAT return is so called control statement through which the VAT payer provides that tax authority with specific information about all transactions carried out with business partners. Both the VAT return and the control statement must be filed with the tax authority electronically.
Other taxes
Labour law and employment
Entitlement to work
In the Czech Republic, the following natural persons are entitled to work:
- Czech nationals – they do not need any employment permission
- Foreigners – when fulfilling specific conditions to perform work in the Czech Republic
Foreigners from the EU, Switzerland and EEA and their family members do not need an employment permit
Foreigners from third countries (except some special categories of employees, such as holders of long-term residency permits, students etc.) need one of the following:
For completeness we would also like to mention the Schengen visa for the purpose of performance of work. This type of visa is a short-term visa issued for the period of 90 days only, i.e. suitable for short-term period of work in the Czech Republic.
Employment contracts
The following employment contract are available in the Czech Republic:
- Regular employment: There are two types of regular employment contracts in the Czech Republic:
- Employment contract for a definite period – generally, it can be concluded for a maximum of 3 years, and it is possible to prolong such contract only twice (maximum length 3×3 years)
- Employment Contract for an indefinite period – an employment relationship shall last for an indefinite period unless a definite period has been expressly agreed
- Work outside employment relationship: Furthermore, an employee may perform work outside employment relationship on the ground of two agreements, i.e., not contracts:
- Agreement to complete a job – the scope of work for which an agreement is concluded may not exceed 300 hours in one calendar year.
- Agreement to perform work – the scope of work shall not exceed a maximum of one half of determined weekly working hours (20 hours)
Taxation of individuals
Taxes on personal income
Czech tax residents are generally subject to taxation of their worldwide income while Czech tax non-residents are taxed on their Czech-source income only.
According to the Czech tax legislation, an individual is considered a Czech tax resident, if he or she has a permanent place of residence in the Czech Republic in which he or she intends to stay permanently, and/or stays for 183 days or more in the Czech Republic continuously or intermittently in the calendar year. If the individual is considered a tax resident abroad as well, tie breakers stipulated in the respective avoiding double tax treaty apply.
For personal income tax purposes, the taxable period is set as the calendar year.
The basic tax return filing and tax liability payment deadline is 1 April of the year following the tax period. As of 2021, an automatic extension to 1 May is possible for taxpayers filing their tax returns electronically. The deadline of 1 July applies if a Czech registered tax advisor is empowered to file taxpayer’s personal income tax return.
Starting from 2021 the Czech Republic returned to progressive taxation. Gross income up to the social security cap (2023 threshold CZK 1,935,552) is subject to a 15% rate. Gross income (with the exception of foreign capital income) exceeding this threshold is subject to 23% rate.
The progressive tax rate is applicable to all types of income.
The standard tax rate of 15% applies to all types of income up to CZK 1,935,552.
The tax rate of 23% applies to all types of income exceeding CZK 1,935,552.
Taxable income of an individual
All forms of compensation, whether in cash or in kind, are generally considered as taxable income (except for some tax-exempt benefits/income). According to the Czech tax legislation the following types of income are taxable here:
Remuneration of members of statutory bodies
Remuneration of managing directors and members of other statutories, who are not Czech tax residents, is subject to a withholding tax of:
- 15% for residents of the European Union, European Economic Area (EEA), or a DTT country (or a country with which the Czech Republic has an agreement on exchange of tax information in place).
- 35% for others.
Remuneration paid to managing directors and members of other statutory bodies who are Czech tax resident is taxed through payroll withholding.
Both tax resident and non-resident directors from EU member states and other countries from the European Economic Area may, however, file the personal income tax return through which they utilise their personal tax deduction(s).
Separate tax base
As of 2021 investment income (e.g., dividends and interest from abroad) of non-Czech source fall within a special tax base on which 15% tax rate applies.
Tax allowances or tax-deductible items are not applicable to reduce this tax base.
Social security and health insurance contributions
Social security contributions provide funding for three separate funds: pensions, unemployment benefits, and sickness (together with other benefits). Entrepreneurs can choose whether to contribute to the sickness fund.
Health insurance covers medical care. An individual can choose the health insurance company to which he will pay the health insurance contributions.
Social security and health insurance contributions are calculated from the individual’s gross remuneration (including most allowances and benefits).
The contribution rates for the employer are 24.8% for social security and 9% for health insurance. The contribution rates for the employee are 6.5% for social security and 4.5% for health insurance. The payments are done by the employer (for both employee and employer parts of contributions).
For self-employed personnel the social security contribution rate amounts to 29.2% from the assessment base (half of revenues decreased by expenses). The contributions to health insurance amount to 13.5% from the assessment base.
The maximum annual cap for the assessment base for calculation of contributions into the social security system is 48 times the average monthly wage per year (i.e., CZK 1,935,552 for 2023). This cap applies to both employees and entrepreneurs.