A tax resident of the Slovak Republic is subject to tax on worldwide income, irrespective of whether the income is remitted to the Slovak Republic.

A Slovak tax non-resident is liable to tax on Slovak-source income only. Slovak-source income includes income from work performed in the Slovak Republic, including director's fees, income from an independent business done through a permanent establishment (PE), and income from services carried out in the Slovak Republic. Slovak-source income also includes interest income, licence fees, and income from the sale or rental of property located in the Slovak Republic.

Slovak tax system:

• Direct taxes
  Income tax
  - private individuals: 19 % of the tax base not exceeding 176.8 times the current amount of subsistence minimum; 25 % of the tax base exceeding 176.8 times the current amount of subsistence minimum legal entities: 21 % of the tax base net of tax loss
  Motor vehicle tax
  Local tax (paid directly to municipal authorities)
• Indirect taxes
  Value added tax (VAT): 20 % (10 % rate is applied in case of goods specified in the Act on the Value Added Tax)
  Excise tax (e.g. on alcohol, tobacco, mineral oil)

The tax system faced a fundamental redesign with having a progressive tax system introduced in 2013. For up‑to‑date information, visit the website of the Financial Administration of the Slovak Republic, the website of the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic or consult the national EURAXESS portal and its section dedicated to taxation.

The Slovak tax authority is called the Finance Directorate of the Slovak Republic and it has a network of eight regional tax offices with additional local branches.

Direct taxes 

Income tax 

The major Slovak legislation regulating the taxation of income is the Act No. 595/2003 on Income Tax.

Usually, the income is taxed in the country of employment, unless provided otherwise. Hence, if you are employed in Slovakia, the income tax is deducted from your salary according to the Slovak legislation, unless a bilateral agreement for avoiding double taxation states otherwise. The income of researchers and teachers with an employment contract or agreements on work performed outside the employment relationship is taxed.

The tax period is one calendar year. The income tax is paid monthly in the form of a tax advance. 19 % tax rate is applied to the tax base not exceeding 176.8 times the amount of subsistence minimum valid on 1 January of the current year and 25 % tax rate to the tax base exceeding 176.8 times the amount of subsistence minimum valid on 1 January of the current year (equal to 38,553.01 € in 2022, with the subsistence minimum equal to 218.06 €/month). The tax base corresponds to the amount of gross wage reduced by all the contributions to compulsory insurance funds and a non‑taxable sum (exempt from taxation).

Foreigners with unrestricted tax liability (see below), as well as foreigners with restricted tax liability whose taxable income from Slovakia represents at least 90 % of their total income, can reduce their tax base by the non-taxable sum.

The non‑taxable sum depends on the amount of subsistence minimum applicable in the particular year and on the taxpayer's total annual income. A special non‑taxable amount can be also applied on a spouse (upon fulfilling certain statutory requirements).

The resulting tax can be reduced by a child taxation bonus (for a dependent child, i.e. until completing compulsory education or a studying child up to 25 years old) if the employee’s annual taxable income has reached at least six times the level of minimum salary (3876 €). The annual child taxation bonus equals 282.84 € in 2022.

Tax exceptions

The following types of income are examples of income exempt from taxation or are not subject to taxation:

• scholarships provided from the state budget (including PhD scholarships), or by higher education institutions or similar benefits provided from abroad, financial support from foundations or non‑profit organisations except for remuneration for carrying out employment or business activities,
• financial resources from grants provided upon international treaties, by which Slovakia is bound
• benefits from health and social insurance, including old‑age savings,
• per diems up to the amount set by law,
• employer's financial contribution to the board of an employee up to the amount set by the law,
• income from employment in the territory of the Slovak Republic of a taxpayer with restricted tax liability (for the definition see the next paragraph) from an employer with the seat abroad if the period of performance of such work does not exceed 183 days in any 12 month‑period.

Tax residence

The determination of the tax residence is necessary in order to clarify the tax liability to the state of occupation and/or residence.

Unrestricted tax liability applies in the case of a person with a permanent residence or domicile in Slovakia and a person who usually stays in Slovakia for at least 183 days (6 months) in a calendar year. Subject to a tax of such a taxpayer is his/her income received from Slovakia as well as from abroad.

On the other hand, a taxpayer with restricted tax liability is a person without a permanent residence or domicile in Slovakia, a person who usually stays in Slovakia for less than 183 days in a calendar year or who often stays in Slovakia only for the purpose of studies or enters Slovakia daily (or occasionally) only for the purpose of employment. Subject to a tax of such a taxpayer is only his/her income from Slovakia. The tax residence may also be determined by bilateral double taxation agreements.

The decisive factors for the determination of the tax residence are residence, usual stay, a centre of vital interest – closer personal or economic relations, habitual abode, being a national of one of the states (usually this is set out in Art. 4 of bilateral double taxation agreements).

Double taxation agreements

In order to make the taxing of migrant persons easier and to avoid double taxation, the Slovak Republic has concluded bilateral agreements with other countries. Slovakia continuously extends the geographical area covered by taxation agreements.

The list of countries with double taxation agreements with Slovakia

Countries that have signed double taxation treaties with Slovakia:

The taxation conditions, therefore, vary depending on the country of origin of a person – if there is a bilateral agreement and what its provisions are.

Double taxation agreements also state the method of elimination of double taxation, in case the income was taxed in the country of occupation and must be declared in the country of tax residence, where the person is a taxpayer with unrestricted tax liability. In the case of states, where no double taxation agreement exists, income from abroad, which has been taxed in the country of occupation, is exempted from taxation in Slovakia. (An authentic certificate of taxation of income must be submitted.) Naturally, this is relevant only to taxpayers with unrestricted tax liability in Slovakia.

The legislation in force, official documents and forms to download in Slovak, and some of the documents also in English.

Tax return (declaration of taxes)

Following the taxation period (a calendar year), the annual clearing of taxes is made by filing the tax return (declaration of taxes), and only then the final level of a non‑taxable amount is calculated dependent on the whole‑year wage.

The deadline for submitting the tax return is 31 March every year (with the possibility of postponing this deadline for 3 – 6 months upon sending the notification to the competent tax office until 31 March). Only afterward, the tax overpayment or tax arrears can be determined. The taxpayer must pay the tax within the deadline for filing the declaration of taxes. An employee, who worked throughout the year in Slovakia and received taxable income only from employment during the calendar year, may request the annual settlement of income tax from the last employer. It is necessary to submit the request not later than 15 February. The annual settlement will be done by the employer on behalf of the employee. In case he/she does not ask the employer for the settlement until the given deadline, fails to deliver all required documents to this date, or received income from abroad within the tax period, he/she must submit the tax return on his/her own.

In the case of tax residents with unlimited liability who have some income from abroad, it is necessary to state all the income in the tax return form and provide documents proving the payment of the tax abroad. Authentic certificate(s) of taxation of income must be submitted. When the taxpayer cannot obtain these documents within the deadline (31 March), he/she shall notify the tax office about postponing the deadline to file the tax return (up to 6 months in the case of income from abroad).

The tax return form and other tax-related documents can be downloaded from the website of the Slovak Finance administration, although in Slovak only.

It is recommended to consult the competent tax authority for any tax issues.

Local taxes

The collection of local taxes is in the competence of municipalies and therefore, they differ in every village/town. Local taxes include the real estate tax, the dog tax, taxes for using public spaces, the accommodation tax, taxes to drive and/or to park a motor vehicle in the historical centre of a town etc. Municipalities also charge local payments for communal waste and small quantities of construction waste.

Indirect taxes

Value added tax (VAT)

The standard VAT rate in Slovakia is 20 %. To certain categories of products like antibiotics, pharmaceutical products, some food products and also books, brochures, and similar printing products are subject to a reduced tax rate of 10 % (a complete list is available in Annex 7 to the Act on Value Added Tax).
Other documents and forms to download are available in Slovak only 

Excise tax

Special terms apply to the excise tax. Excise tax is charged on the release to tax-free circulation or import of tobacco products, wine, spirits, beer, mineral oil, electricity, coal, and natural gas. The excise tax rate depends on the customs classification of the product.

Legislation about excise taxes is available in English on the websites of the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic
Other documents and forms are available in Slovak only