VAT in Slovakia – a complete guide. Rates and registration thresholds | VAT in Europe #13

The Slovak VAT Act contains most guidelines for foreign companies that need to register for VAT purposes and file local VAT returns. Slovak VAT regulations comply with EU requirements.

When should you register for VAT in Slovakia?

If a foreign company supplies goods or services in Slovakia, it may be obliged to register for VAT purposes. Typical cases where this is required include:

• import of goods into Europe through Slovakia,
• purchase and sale of goods in the Slovak Republic,
• warehousing of goods under a consignment agreement in the Slovak Republic for sale to local customers,
• selling goods online to Slovak consumers after exceeding a turnover of 10,000 euros for foreign consumers.

After registering as a VAT taxpayer, a foreign person is obliged to submit documents to the tax office (tax return, summary information, inspection report, and others) exclusively electronically.

VAT registration thresholds in Slovakia

For EU VAT-registered businesses selling goods online to consumers in Slovakia, the threshold for VAT registration (distance selling) is €10,000. .

To register for Slovak VAT, you must complete the appropriate forms (in Slovak) and submit:

• VAT certificate confirming that the company is registered as a VAT taxpayer in another EU location – if applicable,
• the original extract (notarized or stamped by the court) from the national commercial register of the company, translated into Slovak by an official translator.

VAT declarations in Slovakia

Every company registered with the Slovak tax office as a non-resident VAT taxpayer must report taxable transactions using periodic reports called declarations.

The default accounting period in Slovakia is one calendar month. Companies whose turnover in the previous calendar year was less than 100,000 euros may opt to submit quarterly declarations. Newly registered companies must submit monthly declarations for twelve months from registration, regardless of turnover.

The VAT tax return by a foreign entity should be submitted by the 25th day of the following month for the previous month or quarter, if:

• the return shows the tax due,
• an intra-Community supply or export of goods was made in the Slovak Republic,
• the taxpayer participated in triangular trade as the first client,
• the taxpayer applies tax deduction.

In certain cases, it is necessary to submit a control declaration and a summary declaration. In the case of Slovak VAT, there is a five-year limitation period.

VAT ledger report

Companies in Slovakia are required to submit so-called VAT ledger reports, which contain details of sales and cost invoices for each VAT period.

The reports are submitted by the 25th day of the month following the end of the settlement period (month or quarter).

Not submitting the report can lead to a fine of up to 10,000 euros. Repeat offenses may incur fines of up to 100,000 euros.

What should a Slovak invoice contain?

Invoices must primarily include:

• date of issue,
• unique, consecutive number,
• VAT number of the supplier,
• full name and address of the supplier and the recipient,
• full description of the goods or services provided,
• details regarding the quantity of goods or scope of services rendered,
• date of delivery, if different from the date of issue,
• net value,
• VAT rate,
• gross value.

In the case of intra-Community transactions, a Slovak VAT invoice must be issued by the 15th day of the month following the delivery.

For all other transactions, an invoice must be issued within 15 days from the date of delivery. Invoices must be kept for 10 years. Slovakia, like all EU member states, currently allows the use of electronic invoices subject to meeting appropriate conditions.

VAT in Slovakia

RATE	TYPE	TYPE OF GOODS OR SERVICES
20%	standard	all other taxable goods and services,
10%	reduced	some foods, some pharmaceutical products, some medical equipment for disabled persons, books (excluding e-books) hotels and accommodation,
0%	zero	intra-Community and international passenger transportation.

Having only three VAT rates is quite an unusual solution. Most EU countries have four, or even five different rates, with the exception of Denmark, which has only two rates. Read more about the VAT system in Denmark.

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