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If you are tempted by the new business opportunities of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), Slovakia should definitely rank high in your destinations list. The long term political stability, strategic location, common European currency, competitive taxation system, highly skilled workforce – along with the already well-established international business community – makes Slovakia one of the most attractive countries in the CEE region.
The real estate investor can acquire Slovak real estate by way of an asset deal (e.g. direct acquisition of real estate) or a share deal (e.g. acquisition of a corporation owning real estate).
In case investment is done through a resident corporation it is worth mentioning that with respect to profits derived from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2016 Slovakia has a single taxation system, i.e. corporate profits were fully taxed at the company level and distributed profits are not taxed in the hands of the corporate or individual shareholders. With respect to profits derived from January 1st, 2017 the single taxation system applies in the case of corporate shareholder only if the shareholder is based in other than non-cooperating state.
General and limited partnerships are also legal entities for corporate income tax purposes. However, general partnerships are taxed only on income that is subject to withholding tax and their other profits are taxed in the hands of the general partners. Limited partnerships are subject to corporate income tax only on the income attributable to the limited element of the partnership, and the other part of the income is taxed in the hands of the general partners.
Foreign entities (natural or legal) may directly acquire real estate in Slovakia, except from:
Land belonging to the Agricultural or Forest Land Sources located outside district build-up area (some exceptions are allowed)
Specific real estate property purchase of which is limited by law (e.g. caves, rivers, etc.)
No real estate transfer tax is applied.
| The form of business | The minimum capital | Tax treatment | Tax rates | ||
| English | Slovak | ||||
General Partnership | Verejná obchodná spoločnosť (v.o.s.) | — | Income tax base is calculated at the level of the partnership and then transferred to partners; tax is levied at the level of the partners. | 15% / 19 % / 25%1) or 15% / 21%2) | |
Limited Partnership | Komanditná spoločnosť (k.s.) | EUR 250 / minimum deposit of limited partner | Tax resident, however, income tax base attributable to general partners is transferred to general partners and tax is levied at the level of general partners. | 15% / 19 % / 25%1) or 15% / 21%2)
15% / 21%3) | |
Limited Liability Company | Spoločnosť s ručením obmedzeným (s.r.o.) | EUR 5,000 EUR 750 / minimum deposit of limited partner | Non-transparent, dividends from 2004-2016 profits not subject to tax, dividends from profits derived from 1/1/2017 subject to tax4) | 15% / 21%5) | |
Joint Stock Company | Akciová spoločnosť (a.s.) | EUR 25,000 | Non-transparent, dividends from 2004-2016 profits not subject to tax, dividends from profits derived from 1/1/2017 subject to tax4) | 15% / 21%5) | |
Simple joint stock company (new form introduced from 2017) | Jednoduchá spoločnosť na akcie (j.s.a.) | EUR 1 | Non-transparent, dividends subject to tax4) | 15% / 21%5) | |
Cooperative | Družstvo | EUR 1,250 | Non-transparent, dividends from 2004-2016 profits not subject to tax, dividends from profits derived from 1/1/2017 subject to tax4). | 15% / 21%5) | |
Sole entrepreneur | Živnosť | — | Tax liability of sole entrepreneur. | 15% / 19 % / 25%6) | |
Contribution for | Maximum base per month in EUR | Employee | Employer | Sole entrepreneur |
Pension insurance | 9,128 1) | 4.00% | 14.00% | 18% |
Disability insurance | 9,128 1) | 3.00% | 3.00% | 6% |
Reserve fund | 9,128 1) | – | 4.75% | 4,75% |
Sick leave insurance | 9,128 1) | 1.40% | 1.40% | 4,4% |
Accident insurance | No maximum | – | 0.80% | – |
Unemployment insurance | 9,128 1) | 1.00% | 1.00% | 2% 2) |
Guarantee fund | 9,128 1) | – | 0.25% | – |
Health insurance 3) | No maximum 1) | 4.00% | 11.00% 4) | 15% 4) |
TOTAL |
| 13.4% | 35.2% | 49,15% |
Persons residing in the EU are subject to the provisions of EC Regulation 883/2004, which provide for the applicable social security regulation in the case of cross-border activities. If non-EU residents work in Slovakia or Slovak nationals work in a third country, a bilateral social security agreement may provide for the applicable social security legislation.
Main features of employment relationship | Applicable law on labor | |
Contract type | Fixed-term contract, contract for indefinite period of time, contract on reduced working hours, contract on home-work and tele-work, temporary assignation agreement, work performance agreement, agreement on work activity, agreement on student job |
|
Contract must include | Job description, place of work, start date, payment conditions, pay day, working hours, holiday duration, length of termination notice period | |
Working time | 40 hours per week (subject to some exceptions in case of specific working environments) | |
Holiday entitlement per year | 20 days and 25 days in case (1) of employee of 33 years and older (already from the year in which the employee reaches the age of 33) or (2) of a parent taking care of child | |
Other comments | Trial period (max. 3 or max. 6 months for employees directly subordinated to chief executive officers), statutory rules in case of employment termination, termination period (minimum of 1, according to duration of the labour relationship 2 or 3 months) | |
Corporate income tax is levied at a rate of 21%. There is a also a 15% reduced rate. Since January 1, 2024, taxpayers with taxable revenues not exceeding EUR 60,000 per tax period (note: in 2020 the threshold was EUR 100,000; between 2021 – 2023 the threshold was EUR 49,790) are entitled to apply the 15% reduced tax rate.
This is the final tax burden on 2024 corporate profits in some cases because dividends paid out of 2024 profits are not taxed in the hands of shareholder if the shareholders are corporate and based in other than non-cooperating state.
Starting from the 2024 tax period, the minimum corporate tax (commonly known as tax licenses) has been reinstated in the tax legislation, following its abolition from 2017 to 2023.Legal entity is required to pay the following minimum corporate tax if the reported tax liability falls below the applicable minimum tax threshold determined based on the taxable income:
Only a limited number of exceptions from the payment of the minimum tax are allowed, such as companies in bankruptcy, companies in their initial taxable period, non-profit organizations, etc.
Withholding tax of 19% is levied on income from participation certificates, certain debentures, vouchers and investment coupons; and interest from bank deposits and current accounts in general. Withholding tax of 7% shall apply to dividends paid out from profits reported for the tax periods beginning no earlier than January 1, 2024 by domestic companies to individual shareholders. For dividends from profits derived between years 2017 – 2023 the withholding tax rate of 7% is applicable.
With effect from January 1, 2011 the tax withheld is considered to be a final tax rather than an advance payment of tax. The only exemption from this rule applies to income from participation certificates.
A company is treated as resident if it has its legal seat or place of effective management in the Slovak Republic.
Calendar year or the business/financial year
Resident companies are taxable on their worldwide income, including capital gains, unless exempted from tax. The taxable income is computed on the basis of the accounting profits and is adjusted for several items as described in the tax law.
The taxpayer has to calculate the tax due in the corporate income tax return (self-assessment). The deadline for filing the return is by the end of third month following the end of the tax period. The filing deadline may be extended by maximum 3 or 6 months (if part of a taxpayer’s tax base consists of foreign-source income).
Quarterly, if tax paid for previous year was between EUR 5,000 – EUR 16,600. Monthly, if tax paid for previous year was higher than EUR 16,600. A new business entity established during the tax year (except if it is established by conversion, merger or division) is not required to make advance tax payments.
As a general rule, expenses incurred in obtaining, ensuring and maintaining taxable income are fully deductible, unless they are listed as non-deductible items or items which are deductible only up to a limit set by the law.
Tax losses derived from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2019 may be carried forward uniformly for 4 tax years. Tax losses derived before 2014 cannot be carried-forward anymore.
With respect to tax loss reported for the tax period beginning no earlier than January 1st, 2020, new rules apply. The condition of equality of tax loss deduction shall not apply anymore and at the same time, the period for its deduction is extended from 4 years to 5 years. However, during the tax period, tax loss deduction of up to 50% of the tax base will be possible only, unless the taxpayer meets the definition of a “micro-taxpayer”.
Dividends paid out of profits derived from January 1st, 2004 are not subject to any tax in the hands of the shareholders. Dividends paid out of profits derived before January 1, 2004 are taxed at the standard 21% corporate income tax rate, if distributed after December 31, 2013. If conditions for reduced corporate income tax rate of 15% (which was introduced since January 1, 2020) are met, then reduced rate shall apply.
(energy, insurance and reinsurance, public health insurance, electronic communications, pharmaceutics, postal services, rail traffic, public water and sewer systems, air transport and health care services under special legislation)
With effect starting September 1, 2012 a temporary special contribution applies. The special duty has to be paid, even after 2016, despite the fact that it should be effective only until the end of that year.
The definition of the taxable base for special duty was amended with effect from January 1, 2017 so that the duty applies only if the accounting result of at least EUR 3 million is reached and only on income from regulated activities.
The monthly rate was temporarily increased to 0.726% for the period from 2017 to 2018. Then the rate started gradually decreased. In the period from 2019 to 2020 the monthly rate was 0.545% and from the period 2021 the rate is again 0.363% (with the exception of banks, which have temporarily established a different rate according to the next point).
With effect from January 1, 2024, Slovak banks and branches of foreign banks operating in the Slovak Republic, established according to special legislation on banks, are subject to a bank levy. The special bank levy was already effective from 2012 to 2020, but the calculation method differed.
The rate of the special bank levy is set to gradually decrease, with a 2.5% rate applicable for the year 2024. The levy’s base is the accounting result for the respective accounting period multiplied by the coefficient, representing the ratio of revenues from regulated activities to total revenues.. Based on amendment of the law, the special bank levy’s tax rates for future periods will be as follows:
Special levy on all forms of non-life insurance for insurance companies operating in Slovakia was introduced from 2017. 8% is the levy from the received insurance premiums, effective as of January 1, 2017.
According to the law effective until December 31, 2018, levy concerns only the agreements concluded after January 1, 2017. Starting from January 1, 2019, there is a new legislation according to which the special levy will apply on all insurance agreements, regardless the date of the concluding of the agreement, if the insurance period starts to lapse after December 31, 2018.
Generally, the person liable to pay the Insurance Premium Tax shall be the insurance company, however, this obligation may concern also to policyholder (any person who concluded the agreement with the insurer), if this person pays the premium to a third-country insurance undertaking, which does not have a branch in the territory of the Slovak republic or to a legal person to which the costs of such insurance are recharged.
For further details, please see our eBook on tax on non-life insurance premium from January 1, 2019.
In December 2022, new law introducing a new solidarity contribution levy for companies operating in the oil, gas, coal and refinery sectors was adopted.
The solidarity contribution is imposed on both companies that are tax residents of Slovakia and permanent establishments of foreign taxpayers in Slovakia operating in the sectors of extraction of different types of coal as well as gas and crude oil and its processing. These taxpayers are required to pay the solidarity contribution at a rate of 70% with reference to the base, which is the same as the tax base for corporate income tax purposes for tax period, which began in 2022 and ended in 2024.
The solidarity contribution shall be subject to self-assessment and shall be paid within period for corporate income tax return filing. Payment by quarterly instalments is possible. The application of this law was initially intended only for the period 2023, but it was subsequently extended to include the year 2024 as well.
Corporate income tax relief can be provided under the Law on Investment Incentives. Certain corporate income tax relief can be provided also under the Law on Research and Development Incentives. The relief is subject to approval of the Ministry of Economy or Ministry of Finance, as the case may be. If a taxpayer does not claim corporate income tax relief under the Law on Research and Development Incentives, a special regime for research and development expenses, introduced with effect from January 1, 2015, can be claimed if certain conditions are fulfilled.
In addition to the above mentioned, a special scheme was introduced with effect from January 1, 2018 for companies having income from commercial use of intangible assets (e.g. registered patents, software) developed by themselves or of so called embedded intangible assets (e.g. income from sale of products in which registered patent developed by the taxpayer is used). Such income shall be exempted up to 50% during the period of amortization of such intangible asset provided certain conditions are met.
For employers involved in vocational training of students, specific tax incentives were introduced with effect as of September 1, 2015.
Further, as from January 1, 2022, a new temporary measure in the form of an additional deduction for investments with higher added value (Industry 4.0) was introduced. The company will be able to reduce the tax base by an additional amount determined with reference to the tax depreciation of invested assets, depending on the fulfilment of the conditions defined in the Income Tax Act up to 55% of the tax depreciation. Since it is a temporary measure, it can only be used for an investment plan that will last in the tax periods 2022 – 2025. The total value of the investment must be more than seven times the average annual investment over the last three years and at least EUR 1 million. The deduction can be applied during the depreciation period, but no more than 10 consecutive tax periods.
Resident companies are subject to tax on their worldwide income and capital gains. Taxable amount is generally calculated in the same way as in the case of domestic income.
Losses of foreign permanent establishment (calculated based on Slovak tax rules) may be offset against domestic profits unless, on the basis of an applicable double tax treaty, the exemption method applies for double tax relief.
Dividends paid out of profits generated starting January 1,2004 until December 31, 2016 are not subject to any Slovak tax. Dividends paid out of profits generated before January 1, 2004 are included in the taxable base of the recipient and taxed at a standard tax rate of 21% (or from 2020 at reduced rate of 15% if applicable) unless rules implementing EU Parent-Subsidiary Directive applies. Dividends paid out of profits generated from January 1, 2017 shall be included to a separate tax base and taxable at 35% tax rate; this applies only if the distributing company is based in a non-cooperating state, otherwise exemption applies.
No unilateral double taxation relief is provided. Double taxation is relieved only on the basis of tax treaties.
Non-resident companies are taxed only on income derived from Slovak sources. They are generally taxed according to the rules applicable to residents. Income attributable to a Slovak permanent establishment is generally taxed at 21% rate through a tax return (self-assessment). Since 2020, the reduced rate of 15% applies instead of 21%, if specific income threshold conditions are met.
Generally, 19% withholding tax or tax security is levied (unless limited under a tax treaty); an increased tax rate of 35% applies if the recipient is a resident of a non-cooperating state (i.e. a state not on the “white list” published by the Slovak Ministry of Finance). For interest and royalty payments EU Interest and Royalties Directive was implemented.
There is no withholding tax on dividends paid to non-resident companies out of profits derived by the distributing company as from January 1, 2004 until December 31, 2016. Dividends paid out of profits generated before January 1, 2004 are (unless rules implementing EU Parent-Subsidiary Directive apply) subject to a 19% final withholding tax, unless a reduced rate applies under a tax treaty. Dividends paid out of profits generated from January 1, 2017 shall be subject to a 35% withholding tax however only if the recipients are foreign companies based in non-cooperating state.
Applicable on interest expenses arising in the tax period starting January 1, 2015. All resident legal entities and non-resident legal entities having a permanent establishment in Slovak Republic are covered, with the exception of financial institutions, leasing companies and subjects of collective investments. The deduction of interest expenses (including of other related expenses) on loans from related parties exceeding 25% of a company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization is prohibited.
By transposing Article 4 of the Council Directive (EU) 2016/1164 laying down rules against tax avoidance practices that directly affect the functioning of the internal market (this Directive is further referred to as “ATAD”) to the Slovak Income Tax Act in 2022, an additional rule on the limitation of interest costs in relation to creditors is introduced, which is effective from January 1, 2024. All resident legal entities and non-resident legal entities having a permanent establishment in Slovak Republic are covered, with the exception of some specific companies (e.g., financial institutions, financial agents, subjects of collective investments).
According to that rule, if the amount of net interest costs is higher than EUR 3,000,000, the tax base will increase by the amount by which the net interest costs exceed 30% of tax EBITDA. For those purposes, all interest costs and revenues are considered, not only toward the related parties. Moreover, interest costs will be interpreted broadly.
This rule takes precedence over the thin capitalization rule. This means that if conditions for application of this new rule are met, the thin capitalization rules shall not be tested from 2024.
This new rule applies for the first time to net interest costs arising on the basis of contracts concluded after December 31, 2023, including amendments concluded after December 31, 2023.
With effect starting January 1, 2015, the transfer pricing rules apply also between resident related parties. Until December 31, 2014, transfer pricing rules applied only to transactions concluded by residents with foreign related parties.
Mandatory transfer pricing documentation requirements exist, which generally follow the recommendations contained in the OECD Guidelines on Transfer Pricing and the EU Code of Conduct on Transfer Pricing Documentation. For more detailed information read also our Transfer Pricing Overview for Slovakia.
As a result of the implementation of the ATAD, the rules on hybrid mismatches were introduced in the national income tax law with effect from January 1, 2018. The aim of these rules is to prevent a situation between related parties that leads to double deduction or deduction without inclusion. Later on, with effect from January 1, 2020, measures implementing the Council Directive (EU) 2017/952 (i.e., “ATAD 2”) were introduced in the national tax law, while measures implementing Article 9a of that directive were adopted with effective date January 1, 2022. This directive aims to prevent the use of hybrid elements as a result of different tax assessments of financial instruments and taxpayers, particularly in the international context, leading to reduction of the tax liabilities.
Introduction of rules on exit tax with effect from January 1, 2018 was part of the implementation of the ATAD, too. Exit tax at rate of21%shall applyto legal personsin the case of taxpayer’s property transfer, taxpayer’s leaving or transfer of their business abroad.
In the case of taxpayer’s property transfer, taxpayer’s leaving or transfer of their business abroad. In the case of taxation, the fiction of a property sale, or sale of the enterprise or its part should apply. The aim of taxation is to ensure that in the case of taxpayer’s property transfer or changing tax residence abroad, the taxpayer will tax an economic value of all capital gains earned in Slovakia, even though this gain is not realized in the moment of leaving.
In 2017, when implementing the ATAD, the CFC legislation was approved, as well, and this with effect from January 1, 2019.
The CFC rules consist of assigning the income of a low-taxed controlled subsidiary company to its parent company. Part of the parent company’s tax base will be the income of controlled foreign company to the extent to which the assets and risks are attributable to that income that are connected to main functions of the parent company.
As a controlled foreign company shall be treated the company or subject:
in which the tax resident company by itself or together with associated enterprises has the holding of more than 50% or
the proportion of the voting rights of more than 50% or
profit-shares of more than 50%.
Concurrently, the corporate income tax paid by the controlled foreign company abroad is lower than 50% of the corporate income tax that the controlled foreign company would pay in the Slovak Republic after the tax base has been calculated in accordance with the Slovak law.
As the controlled foreign company is considered also the permanent establishment, while the first condition is not examined in this case.
With effective date on December 31, 2023, an adaptation of Council Directive (EU) 2022/2523 were introduced in the national tax law through the new law on the so-called top-up tax, to ensure a global minimal level of taxation for multinational enterprise groups and large-scale domestic groups.
The top-up tax will apply to companies located in the European Union, that are members of multinational groups or large domestic groups with yearly consolidated revenues more than EUR 750 million in two out of four tax periods.
All members of these groups in the Slovak Republic, must lasting from 2024, monitor their effective tax rate to achieve at least 15%. Otherwise, there will be an obligation to calculate the additional tax (top-up tax) as the difference between the actual effective tax rate of the respective group members and the 15% effective tax rate. Monitoring and possible calculation of top-up tax must be carried out jointly at the level of all members located in the Slovak Republic belonging to the same group.
The effective tax rate = Taxes* / Accounting result adjusted for items specified in the law
*Taxes including mainly due and deferred corporate income tax, withholding tax, special contributions
There are also set up some exemptions from the calculation of the top-up tax, basically for groups which do business in Slovakia through smaller entities and met the specific conditions set up by law. Some of the conditions are only temporary (applicable for accounting periods 2024 – 2026).
Public entities, international organizations, non-profit organizations, pension funds and investments funds that are main parent entities are excluded from the application of top-up tax.
The entity qualified for top-up tax application will be obliged to submit a notification with the information necessary for the calculation of the top-up tax, together with the tax return, within 15 months after the end of the relevant tax period. For the first tax period, which is 2024 (for entities applying calendar year), the deadline is extended by three calendar months (i.e. until the end of June 2023).
The members of the same group from the Slovak Republic might agree on the fulfillment of their obligations by only one of them, or under certain circumstances, by the main parent company.
The tax rates applicable for income derived in 2023 are:
Income from capital is taxed at flat rate of 19%. Income from dividends paid out of pre-2004 profits and profits derived from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2023 is taxed at 7% (35% applies if dividends are from foreign sources of non-cooperating state). For income from dividends derived from profits for periods starting after January 1, 2024, a tax rate of 10% applies (while the rate of 35% still applies for dividends from foreign sources of non-cooperating states).
Moreover, an additional tax of 5% is to be paid by the representatives of constitutional bodies (e.g. the President, Members of Parliament) on their employment income. Certain types of income are not aggregated but are subject to a final withholding tax of 19% or of 7% resp. 10% in the case of dividends paid out by domestic company.
Individuals who have their permanent residence or habitual abode in Slovakia are treated as residents. An individual has his habitual abode in Slovakia if they are present in Slovakia for at least 183 days (in aggregate) in a calendar year (except individuals who stay there for the purposes of studying or receiving medical treatment).
Starting from January 1, 2018, in addition to the above two mentioned criteria also the criterion of a real residence shall be examined. If an individual is provided with permanent accommodation on the territory of the Slovak Republic that does not only serve for occasional accommodation due to short-term visits, they will be treated as a resident, as well.
All other individuals are treated as non-residents.
Individuals who are residents for tax purposes in Slovakia are taxable on their worldwide income. Taxable income of an individual is usually calculated by aggregating the separate net results of the following income categories:
employment income
rental income and income from the use of work and art performance
other income (e.g. income from occasional activities)
Starting January 1, 2016 income from capital is not aggregated but separate tax base is to be calculated on that income. Also, dividend income is subject to a separate tax base as of January 1, 2017. Starting with January 1, 2020, income from business activities and other independent professional activities is not aggregated, too and separate tax base shall be calculated on that income.
Specific exemptions and deductions apply for the purposes of determining the net result of each income category.
Dividends paid out of 2004 – 2016 profits are not subject to any tax.
Taxpayers deriving income that is not taxed through a withholding tax or are exempt have to file an income tax return by March 31st in the year following the tax year (self-assessment). The filling period may be extended upon certain conditions.
Taxpayers whose annual income does not exceed 50% of the amount of the basic allowance have to file a tax return only if losses are declared. Taxpayers having income only from a single employment are not required to file a tax return, if certain conditions are met.
Tax losses generated from business activities and other independent professional activities may only be set off against income derived from those types of activity. Losses that cannot be set off may be carried forward. The standard carry-forward period for pre-2020 tax losses is 4 years, and the losses must be carried forward evenly. With respect to tax loss reported for the tax period beginning on January 1, 2020 or later, new rules apply. The condition of equality of tax loss deduction shall not apply anymore and at the same time, the period for its deduction is extended from 4 years to 5 years. However, in the tax period, tax loss deduction of up to 50% of the business activity income tax base will be possible only, unless the taxpayer meets the definition of a “micro-taxpayer”.
Supplementary pension insurance contributions may be deducted up to EUR 180 per year if certain conditions are met.
From January 1, 2021, specific deductions with respect to expenses paid by individuals for services of spa resorts that have licence pursuant to special legislation, cannot be claimed any more.
Personal deductions can be claimed only with respect to active income (income from employment, business activities and other independent gainful activities). Starting with January 1, 2020, these deductions shall be claimed primarily with respect to taxable employment income.
Individuals who conduct business activities other than those whose last known tax liability was EUR 5,000 or less are required to pay advance payments (quarterly or monthly as the case may be).
In the case of employment income, the employer is obliged to remit the tax to the tax authorities no later than on the fifth day after the wages were paid.
Basic personal allowance can be claimed only with respect to active income (income from employment, business activities and other independent gainful activities). Starting with January 1st, 2020, basic personal allowances shall be claimed primarily with respect to taxable employment income. If taxable employment income is lower than is the amount of basic allowances, then the difference can be claimed with respect to taxable income from business activities and other independent gainful activities.
In 2024, the following annual basic personal allowances can be claimed:
* The living minimum applicable on January 1st of the tax year (EUR 268,88 for 2024)
It can be claimed only with respect to active income (income from employment, business activities and other independent gainful activities). Starting with January 1, 2020, it shall be claimed primarily with respect to taxable employment income.
In 2024, allowance of up toEUR 5,162.50 can be claimed by a resident taxpayer whose spouse does not have annual taxable income and if the aggregated net active income of that taxpayer does not exceed EUR 47,537.98. If a spouse earns less than EUR 5,162.50, this allowance is calculated as the difference between EUR 5,162.50 and the spouse’s actual income. If the taxpayer’s annual net active income exceeds EUR 47,537.98, the allowance is gradually reduced to null, such that those whose annual income exceeds EUR 68,187.96 are not entitled to the allowance.
Resident taxpayers having taxable employment or business income are entitled to a tax credit for each dependent child living in the same household with him. As from July 1, 2022, the condition of required minimum amount of active income, was cancelled. In 2024, a credit of:
If there is a specific meal allowance provided for a child up to 18 years old, there is no entitlement for a tax credit.
At the same time, the maximum amounts of tax credit were introduced, which depend on the number of children living in the same household. In 2024, they are as follows:
| Number of dependent children | Maximum amount of tax credit (% from tax base from active income) |
| 1 | 20 |
| 2 | 27 |
| 3 | 34 |
| 4 | 41 |
| 5 | 48 |
| 6 and more | 55 |
Starting from January 1, 2018, the taxpayers are entitled also to a tax credit in the case they pay interests on a mortgage and certain conditions are met. Tax credit can be in the amount of 50% of paid interests in given tax period, up to EUR 400 per year. The amount of interest shall be calculated at maximum from EUR 50,000 per one domestic dwelling.
Starting from January 1, 2024, the tax credit on interest paid on a mortgage increased to 50% of paid interests during five years, up to EUR 1,200 (previously EUR 400) per year. Increased amount of tax credit can be claimed by individuals if certain conditions are met i.e., individuals aged between 18 and 35, who concluded new mortgage agreement after 1.1.2024; whose average monthly income is up to 1.6 times the average monthly salary of employees in the economy; no limit of the amount of mortgage (previously up EUR 50,000); the property should be for living purpose and cannot be rented.
Individuals who refixed their mortgage can apply a tax credit on an increased mortgage instalment for the year 2023. Individuals who earn up to 1.6 times the average monthly salary of employees in the economy are entitled to the tax credit equal to 75% of the difference between the original and the increased monthly instalment at the same bank, up to EUR 150 per month (up to EUR 1,800 per year). For 2023, the individuals may opt whether they apply the tax credit on interest paid or tax credit on increased mortgage instalment. For 2024, individuals can only apply for the contribution on increased mortgage instalment at local labour offices.
Resident individuals are subject to tax on their worldwide income. Taxable amount is generally calculated in the same way as in the case of domestic income.
Foreign dividends are generally exempt if paid from profits derived by the distributing company starting January 1, 2004 until December 31, 2016. Dividends paid out of pre-2004 profits and dividends from profits derived from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2023 are taxable at 7%, or at 10% if profits derived from periods starting from January 1, 2024, If dividends are from foreign sources of non-cooperating state, the applicable tax rate increases up to 35%.
Income earned from employment performed abroad is exempt in Slovakia if the taxpayer can prove that such income has been taxed abroad. There is no other unilateral double taxation relief, but relief may be obtained under a tax treaty.
The rules for controlled foreign companies (CFC) were applicable also to natural persons only for limited time period, lasing from January 1, 2022 (the original proposal was from January 1, 2021) until July 31, 2023. For this limited time period, CFC rules for natural persons in Slovakia set out that the profit shares (dividends) in a CFC company shall be taxed at the moment of their potential claim of a natural person’s taxpayer and not when they are paid. Income shall be allocated from the economic result as reported abroad.
The CFC means a legal entity or another entity with a corporate seat abroad, if the following conditions are met:
natural person alone or together with related persons has a direct, indirect or indirect derived share in the capital, voting rights or has the right to share in the profit of at least 10%, or has real control over this company and
the controlled foreign company is a taxpayer of a non-cooperating state or is a non-taxpayer of a non-cooperating country, but the effective taxation of income is less than 10%.
Income taxation shall be through a separate tax base, at 25 % or 35 % for non-cooperating countries. From August 1, 2023, all rules on controlled foreign companies for natural persons have been removed from tax legislative.
Non-resident individuals are taxed only on their income derived from Slovak sources. Employment income derived by non-residents from employment performed in Slovakia for a period not exceeding 183 days in 12 consecutive months is exempt. The exemption does not apply to activities performed by artists or sportsmen, or through a permanent establishment. The income of non-residents is generally taxed according to the rules applicable to residents unless a law or a tax treaty provides otherwise.
Non-residents are entitled to the basic personal allowance (see above). In case their income from Slovak sources in the tax year is at least 90% of their total income, they are entitled also to the dependent-spouse allowance and tax credits.
Generally, 19% withholding tax or tax security is levied (unless limited under a tax treaty); an increased tax rate of 35% applies if the recipient is a resident of a non-cooperating state.
There is no withholding tax on dividends paid to non-resident individuals for 2004 – 2016 profits. Unless otherwise stated in the treaty, dividends from profits derived from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2023 are subject to withholding tax of 7%, or withholding tax of 10% for profits derived from periods starting from January 1, 2024. If dividends are from foreign sources of non-cooperating state, the applicable withholding tax rate increases to 35%, unless otherwise stated in the treaty.
Export of goods and services is zero rated.
Intra-Community supplies of goods are zero rated under certain conditions.
The VAT rules are based on the principles of the Council Directive 2006/112/EC on the Common System of Value-Added Tax.
Legal entities and individuals that carry on an economic activity.
Total consideration charged for the supply, excluding VAT but including any excise duties or other taxes and fees.
Tax period for VAT is month or quarter, based on turnover for 12 previous consecutive calendar months. Compulsory tax period for new registered VAT payers is calendar month.
Periodical VAT returns: monthly or quarterly, by the 25th day of the following month.
The amount of VAT liability consists of the VAT due on supply of goods and services carried out by the entrepreneur less input VAT of the same period. In addition, taxable person carrying out intra-Community supplies or supplying services according to the basic rule for “business to business” services have to file an EC Sales List (that shows the VAT identification numbers of his business partners and the total value of all the supplies of goods and services performed by the entrepreneur) on a monthly or quarterly basis depending on the situation.
From 2014, VAT registered persons are also obliged to file a recapitulative statement that contain details of transactions subject to VAT in Slovakia as well as of transactions where input VAT deduction is claimed.
The threshold for mandatory VAT registration for taxable person with registered office, place of business or fixed establishment in Slovakia is turnover of EUR 49,790 for a period of 12 previous consecutive calendar months. Taxable persons supplying real property (buildings, building land) have to register for VAT purposes if certain conditions are met. The voluntary VAT registration is possible as well.
Starting from January 1, 2023, domestic taxable persons who perform exclusively exempted activities such as financial, insurance services, delivery and rental of real estate are allowed to voluntarily decide whether to register for VAT purposes after the turnover threshold has been reached.
In case of intra-community acquisition of goods from another EU-Member state, the taxable person not registered for VAT has to register for VAT before the value of those transactions cumulative exceeds EUR 14,000 in calendar year.
A taxable person (not registered as a VAT payer) has to register and pay output VAT or to report the supply of service in EC Sales List if the place of delivery for that service is:
VAT registration is mandatory for foreign taxable persons without registered office or fixed establishment in Slovakia before it carries out activity which is subject to VAT in Slovakia and „reverse charge” mechanism is not applied. In the field of e-commerce and optional one stop shop schemes, as from July 1, 2021, the rules implementing the Council Directive (EU) 2017/2455 and Council Directive (EU) 2019/1995 entered into force.
Several taxable persons who have their seat, place of business or fixed establishment within the territory of the Slovak Republic and are connected financially, economically and organizationally, may be deemed as a single taxable person.
Starting from November 15, 2021, a special notification obligation for VAT payers applies, for each bank account used for business purposes. All registered VAT payers are obliged to report the numbers of all own bank accounts (payment, deposit), which the VAT payer will use for business that is a subject to tax under the Slovak VAT Act. This obligation applies both to bank accounts held with a domestic payment service provider and to accounts held with foreign payment service providers.
Newly registered VAT payers will be required to comply with the reporting obligation immediately from the date on which they became VAT payers or immediately from the date on which they set up such an account after they have been registered as VAT payers by the tax office.
VAT payers will be obliged to also notify any subsequent change, addition, or cancellation of notified bank accounts without delay.
The purpose of this measure is to publish, starting from January 1, 2022, the list of VAT payers’ bank accounts on the website of the Financial Directorate on a daily basis. Payment of the supplier’s invoice to a bank account which was not listed at the time of payment may lead to the application of the tax guaranteeing institute. Therefore, customers should pay increased attention to the supplier’s bank accounts, to which they will make the payment of invoices. It also applies that tax office return the excess deduction only to one of the bank accounts notified to it by the VAT payer as part of the mentioned special notification obligation.
Following the transposition of the Council Directive (EU) 2020/284 into Slovak VAT legislation with effect from January 1, 2024, the payment service providers have new notification duty starting from January 1, 2024.
Domestic payment service providers are required to keep records of payees and cross-border payments in connection with the payment services they provide for each calendar quarter (25 cross-border payments or more to a single recipient), and at the same time to make these records available to the Financial Directorate of the Slovak Republic. Payment service providers shall retain relevant data, submit it to the tax authorities upon crossing the threshold by using a standardized electronic form (uniform across the entire EU) no later than till the end of the month following the relevant calendar quarter to which the information pertains. These records shall be sent by each member state to the Central European Payment System (so-called CESOP), where they are cross-checked and evaluated.
The aim of this is to combat tax avoidance in the field of cross-border e-commerce, as well as to check the correctness of the amount of tax declared. Read more information about legislative changes in the area of VAT effective from 2024 in our article.
Net worth tax – There is no net worth tax in Slovakia.
This tax consists of land tax, building tax and apartment tax. The general rate of the land tax is 0.25% of the value. The general rate of the building tax and the apartment tax is EUR 0.033 per m2. The municipalities may increase or decrease these rates in accordance with local conditions.
Levied on motor vehicles and trailers in categories L, M, N, and O if registered in Slovak republic and used for business purposes.
Excise duties are levied on mineral oil, beer, wine, spirits, electricity, coal, natural gas and tobacco products.
Goods imported from non-EU countries are subject to import customs clearance.
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