Basic and reduced VAT rates

The basic VAT rate in the Czech Republic equals 21%. A reduced VAT rate of 12% is applicable to specific goods, such as food and drinking tap water, special healthcare products or pharmaceutical products (incl. drugs and vaccines), public transportation, hotel accommodation, catering or entry to cultural and sport events.

Supply of goods within and outside the European Union

The supply of goods to another EU member state is exempt from VAT, provided that:

• The goods are physically delivered to another EU member state
• The goods are transported by a supplier, customer or third person on their behalf
• The customer provides valid EU VAT ID number for intracommunity purposes
• The transaction is reported in EC Sales List

The export of goods outside the EU is exempt from VAT, provided that:

• The goods are physically transported to third country by supplier or customer
• The supplier has confirmation of custom authorities or other documents confirming export from the EU

Taxable amount

The taxable amount equals the total amount that was received or shall be received for a taxable supply, including any excise duties, however, it does not include the value-added tax.

Voluntary and obligatory registration

Voluntary VAT registration is possible, but only for a taxable person. However, if the turnover threshold reaches CZK 2,000,000 within a calendar year, registration for VAT becomes obligatory.

The application for VAT registration must be submitted within 10 working days after the turnover threshold has been reached. In the application, taxable person may decide since when it would be registered as VAT payer:

1. As of the day following the day on which the threshold has been exceeded, or
2. As of the first day of the following year (i.e. always from January 1).

Once the turnover threshold reaches CZK 2,536,500 a taxable person becomes taxpayer always from the day following the day on which the threshold has been reached.

The due day to file the obligatory VAT registration falls on the 15th day of the calendar month following the calendar month in which the turnover threshold has been reached.

Group registration for taxable entities

In the Czech Republic, taxable entities who have their seat, place of business or fixes establishment within Czech territory and are financially, economically, and organizationally connected, may participate in group VAT registration, and therefore be considered as a single taxable person for VAT purposes.

Other specifications of the VAT registration

In case a taxable person does not fulfil the obligation to register for VAT, the tax authority is entitled to do so ex officio.

Besides the obligatory registration, Czech taxable entities must register for VAT for intra-community purposes in case of service provision to another EU member state or in case of acquisition of goods or services from another EU member state.

Definition of foreign taxable persons

Foreign taxable persons are entities without seat or fixed establishment located in the Czech Republic, who realize the delivery of goods or service provisions subject to Czech VAT obligations.

Obligatory registration for foreign taxable persons

Foreign taxable persons are obliged to register for VAT in the Czech Republic in case they deliver goods or provide services subject to Czech VAT obligations (except when the recipient is obliged to pay the tax) as well as in case of acquisition of goods from other EU member states.

For distance sales the threshold for the relevant transactions (distanced sale of goods and provision of telecommunication services, radio and television broadcasting services and electronically provided services to a non-taxable person), did not exceed EUR 10,000 (approx. CZK 253,000) in the relevant and the immediately preceding calendar year. Alternatively, a single EU VAT return submitted in the OSS (One-Stop Shop) scheme will be an option.

The electronic portal businesses (often participants of distanced sales of goods) selling imported goods to buyers in the EU, might, since 1 July 2021, instead of making the buyer pay the VAT as of import of the goods into the EU, declare and pay the VAT to the tax authorities in IOSS (Import One‑Stop Shop) scheme.

Minimum amount and applicable period

The minimum amount to be refunded is EUR 50 for the respective calendar year. However, the VAT refund may be requested also for shorter periods than the whole calendar year, but such period may not be shorter than 3 calendar months while the value of VAT must exceed EUR 400.

Deadline and place of filing for VAT refund

The deadline for filing of the VAT refund request is September 30 of the subsequent calendar year. The request shall be filed with the local tax authority in the other EU member state where the claimant is established. The deadline for the return of claimed VAT is 10 working days after a decision on the VAT refund is issued. This decision is issued between 4 to 8 months after filing the VAT refund request.

Refund for foreign taxable persons

VAT refund for a foreign taxable person is possible, upon the fulfilment of specific conditions.

Depending on the specific situation, following penalties can be imposed in case of VAT non-compliance:

• Fine up to CZK 300,000
• Late payment interest that is calculated as the National Bank’s repo-rate (currently 4%) increased by 8 %
• Penalty in the amount of 20 % of the assessed VAT amount