Taxes in Slovakia 2026: Rates, Contributions and the Tax Return

Slovakia’s tax system changed noticeably in 2026: there are now four income tax rates instead of two, health insurance contributions have gone up, and the “contribution holiday” for new entrepreneurs has been cut short. Here is who pays what — in plain language and with concrete figures.

Who has to pay tax in Slovakia

The key concept here is tax residency. You are a Slovak tax resident if you have permanent housing here or spend more than 183 days a year in the country. A resident pays Slovak tax on all of their income, including income earned abroad. A non-resident pays only on income from Slovak sources.

This matters for anyone who has kept income in Ukraine or another country: the mere fact that the money is received abroad does not exempt you from declaring it in Slovakia. There are double taxation treaties between the countries, but they have to be applied correctly, not on the principle of “I paid there, so I don’t have to pay here”.

Personal income tax in 2026

From 1 January 2026 there are four tax rates instead of the previous two. The higher rate applies only to the part of your income above the relevant threshold — this is a progressive scale, not “your whole income at the high rate”.

19 % — on income up to roughly 43 983 euros a year;
25 % — on the part of income between roughly 43 983 and 60 349 euros;
30 % — on the part between roughly 60 349 and 75 010 euros;
35 % — on the part of income above roughly 75 010 euros.

The thresholds are tied to the subsistence minimum and are recalculated every year, so the amounts here are approximate figures for 2026.

The tax-free allowance

Every taxpayer has a tax-free part of the tax base (nezdaniteľná časť základu dane) — an amount on which no tax is charged. It can be increased further for a non-working spouse and under certain other conditions. Employees see this as the “tax bonus” on their payslip.

If you work under an employment contract, your employer withholds the tax and the contributions for you. How gross becomes net pay is covered in detail in the article on gross and net salary in Slovakia.

Taxes for entrepreneurs: živnosť and s.r.o.

Živnosť (SZČO)

A sole trader pays income tax at a reduced rate of 15 % if their taxable income for the year does not exceed 100 000 euros. This is one of the most attractive rates in the region and the main reason why so many people choose a živnosť.

Above 100 000 euros, the progressive scale of four rates described above applies instead.

Expenses can be accounted for in two ways: actual (documented, with proper bookkeeping) or flat-rate — a fixed percentage of income with no receipts needed, up to an annual cap. Flat-rate expenses are simpler and often better for people with few real costs: programmers, translators, consultants. Check the current percentage and limit for the year in question.

S.r.o. (limited liability company)

Corporate tax rates did not change in 2026. Something else did: companies with a turnover above 5 million euros now pay a minimum tax of 11 520 euros a year.

The fundamental difference from a živnosť: the profit of an s.r.o. is not yet your money. To take it out you have to pay dividends, which are taxed separately. So “an s.r.o. is more profitable” is a myth; it all depends on your turnover, your line of business and how much you take out for personal use.

How to set up either one is explained in the article on what a živnosť in Slovakia is.

Contributions: what changed in 2026

Contributions (odvody) are not a tax but insurance premiums, and for many entrepreneurs they hurt more than the tax does. The 2026 changes are significant:

Health insurance contributions for employees rose from 4 % to 5 %, and from 2 % to 2,5 % for people with a disability.
The minimum assessment base for entrepreneurs’ contributions went up from 50 % to 60 % of the average wage. In practice this means a noticeably higher minimum payment, even if the business earned almost nothing.
The “contribution holiday” for new entrepreneurs was cut from 12 months to 6. Social insurance contributions now start in the sixth month of trading rather than after a year.

That last point matters especially if you are only planning to start a živnosť: the year you had to find your feet has become six months. Budget accordingly.

VAT (DPH)

VAT registration is compulsory once you exceed the set turnover threshold, and voluntary otherwise. Being VAT-registered makes sense if your clients are VAT payers themselves; if you work with private individuals, it is usually better not to register.

What changed in 2026:

Products with a high sugar or salt content moved from the 19 % rate to 23 %. Basic staples — sugar, salt, baby food — were left unchanged.
VAT deduction on passenger cars is capped at 50 % (in force from 1 January 2026 to 30 June 2028). A full deduction is only possible if the car is used exclusively for business — a taxi or a driving school, for example — with electronic trip records and notification of the tax office.

The tax return: who files it and when

The standard deadline for filing the income tax return (daňové priznanie) is 31 March for the previous calendar year. It can be extended by notifying the tax office before the original deadline expires: normally by three months, or by six if you have income from abroad.

You do not need to file a return if you worked for a single employer all year, had no other income and asked that employer to do the annual reconciliation (ročné zúčtovanie). They will work everything out for you.

You do need to file a return if you are an entrepreneur, worked for several employers, received income from abroad, rented out property or sold assets at a profit.

How to file

Entrepreneurs and VAT payers must deal with the tax office electronically only — through the financial administration portal with an electronic signature, or via an authorised representative (an accountant). Private individuals without a business may also file on paper.

The main 2026 changes in brief

Four income tax rates: 19 %, 25 %, 30 %, 35 %.
Health insurance contributions for employees: 4 % → 5 %.
Minimum assessment base for entrepreneurs: 50 % → 60 % of the average wage.
Contribution holiday for new entrepreneurs: 12 → 6 months.
A minimum tax of 11 520 euros for companies with a turnover above 5 million euros.
VAT deduction on passenger cars capped at 50 %.
23 % VAT on products with a high sugar and salt content.
The financial transaction tax no longer applies to sole traders.
In the first half of 2026 there was a tax amnesty for arrears that arose before 30 September 2025.
The obligation to use a cash register was extended to all entrepreneurs who take payment for goods and services.

Frequently asked questions

I work under an employment contract. Do I need to do anything?

As a rule, no: your employer withholds the tax and the contributions itself. Just ask it, by the deadline early in the year, to do the annual reconciliation — then you will not have to file a return at all.

I have income in both Slovakia and Ukraine. Where do I pay?

If you are a Slovak tax resident, all of your income has to be declared here. Double taxation can be avoided under the international treaty, but the mechanism depends on the type of income. This is exactly the case where it is worth paying an accountant once so you do not pay a penalty later.

Which is better: a živnosť or an s.r.o.?

At modest turnovers it is almost always a živnosť — a 15 % rate and minimal administration. An s.r.o. starts to make sense at higher turnovers, with several co-owners, or where limited liability matters.

What happens if I do not file a return?

The tax office will impose a fine and interest. The debt does not go away either — it grows. If you have missed the deadline, it is better to file late of your own accord than to wait until they come looking.

Do I need an accountant?

For a živnosť with flat-rate expenses and a simple line of business, many people manage on their own. For an s.r.o., for VAT and for income from several countries an accountant saves both money and nerves. Russian-speaking accountants can be found in our directory of specialists and services.

You will find the official rates and forms here: electronic account of the insured person.

Minimum contributions are calculated from it too — see what the minimum wage is in 2026.

Besides income tax there is also value added tax: VAT rates and calculator.

Besides taxes and contributions, a car owner has one more compulsory annual payment — car insurance in Slovakia (PZP and KASKO).

Alongside tax, your income is also subject to social insurance contributions, which determine your future pension — the rates and the 2026 changes are covered separately.

Besides taxes and contributions, a household budget usually includes a home insurance policy as well. We have looked at how much flat and house insurance costs in Slovakia and what the price depends on.

Exactly how salaries are taxed — the rates, the tax-free allowances and the tax bonus — is covered in a separate article on the taxation of employees.

A separate topic is the tax on winnings and ÚRHH licences: winnings from games under a Slovak licence are exempt from income tax.

Before a holiday or a business trip abroad, travel insurance from Slovakia also comes in handy: what the policy covers and how to choose one.

Workers from outside the EU first need access to the labour market: a separate article covers the work permit in Slovakia and how to apply for one.

Official sources

The primary source on all of these questions is the Financial Administration of the Slovak Republic. Overviews of legislative changes are published by consulting firms, for example KPMG on danovky.sk.

On the same topic you may also find useful setting up a živnosť in Slovakia, how to open a bank account and ways to find a job in Slovakia.

Important. The information in this article has been collected from open sources on the internet and is current as at the date of publication. Slovak tax law changes almost every year, and rates, thresholds and limits are recalculated. This article gives a general overview and is not tax advice. Before making any decisions, check the current figures on the website of the Financial Administration of the Slovak Republic and be sure to consult a qualified specialist — a tax adviser or an accountant who can assess your particular situation.

If you are only planning to register a company, the steps and the costs are covered separately: how to open a company (s.r.o.) in Slovakia.

A separate look at company reporting — deadlines, contents, the public register and what happens if you miss it — is in the article on company financial statements in Slovakia.