Taxes and Social Contributions in Slovakia in 2026: Overview of Key Changes
30.12.2025
From 1 January 2026, new tax rules will come into effect in Slovakia. They will affect employees, the self-employed, and companies. The main changes are detailed in our comprehensive overview.
Progressive Income Tax
From the start of the new year, an expanded progressive scale will be implemented to increase the tax burden on above-average incomes. These changes were adopted as part of the third consolidation package approved by parliament in September 2025.
Until now, the maximum income tax rate in Slovakia was 25%, but from 1 January, rates of 30% and 35% will apply to those with higher incomes.
As before, tax payments will be linked to the subsistence minimum, which from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026 is set at 284.13 euros.
| Annual Income | Amount | Tax Rate |
| less than 154.8 times the subsistence minimum | up to 43,983.32 euros | 19% |
| from 154.8 to 212.4 times the subsistence minimum | from 43,983.32 to 60,349.21 euros | 25% |
| from 212.4 to 264 times the subsistence minimum | from 60,349.21 to 75,010.32 euros | 30% |
| more than 264 times the subsistence minimum | more than 75,010.32 euros | 35% |
Importantly, the tax is progressive – this means that the increased rate only applies when the corresponding threshold is exceeded. For example, with an annual income of 60,000 euros, the amount of 43,983.32 euros will be taxed at 19%, and the remaining amount at 25%.
According to preliminary data, the 25% rate will apply to a salary of 4,282 euros per month (before tax), 30% at an income of 5,875 euros, and 35% at a salary of 7,302 euros.
The amount of the non-taxable portion of income (nezdaniteľná časť základu dane, NČZD) will also be calculated differently. From 1 January, the income for calculation is reduced from the current 92.8 to 91.8 times the subsistence minimum, meaning if the tax base is equal to or does not exceed 26,083.13 euros per year, the full non-taxable amount – 5,966.73 euros per year, or 497.23 euros per month applies. For higher incomes, the non-taxable portion of the tax base gradually decreases.
Income Tax for the Self-Employed
For the self-employed (SZČO) — for example, sole traders (živnostníci) — the preferential rate of 15% will be retained if their annual income or tax base does not exceed 100,000 euros per year.
If this threshold is exceeded, a progressive rate will also apply – 19%, 25%, 30%, or 35% depending on the income level.
| Annual Income | Tax Base | Tax Rate |
| up to 100,000 euros (inclusive) | the entire amount | 15% |
| more than 100,000 euros | up to 43,983.32 euros | 19% |
| from 43,983.32 to 60,349.21 euros | 25% | |
| from 60,349.21 to 75,010.32 euros | 30% | |
| more than 75,010.32 euros | 35% |
Social Contributions
From 1 January 2026, for the self-employed, the sizes and rules for social contributions will also change. Currently, sole traders start paying social contributions only after submitting their first tax return (from 1 July or 1 October if its submission was postponed).
It is also important that until the end of 2025, these contributions must be paid if the entrepreneur’s income exceeds a certain amount, namely – an amount equal to half of 12 average salaries in Slovakia over the last two years. Currently, it is 9,144 euros.
However, from January, different rules will apply. SZČO will be exempt from paying social contributions only during the first six months after registration. After that, they will be obliged to pay them regardless of their income.
Moreover, the size of the contributions will also increase. For entrepreneurs with an annual income of less than 9,144 euros, contributions will start from 1 July, after the transition period ends, and their amount will be 131.34 euros per month. For entrepreneurs with an income of 9,144 euros per year and above, contributions will be paid in the amount of from 303.11 euros per month starting from 1 January 2026. There will be no changes in the sizes of social contributions for employees in 2026.
Medical Contributions
For the self-employed, the size of payments to the medical insurance system will increase from 15% to 16%, resulting in a minimum payment of 121.92 euros per month.
The rate of this contribution is increasing by one percentage point for the second time in two years. However, the authorities have stated that the current increase will be temporary, and from 1 January 2028, the rate will return to 15%.
Similarly, the contribution rate to the medical insurance system for employees will be 16% of the salary before tax.
It is also important that the current increase will directly affect the employee, not the employer. Currently, the contribution rate to the medical insurance system is 15%, which is divided between them in a ratio of 4/11. From 2026, the rate will be 16%, and the ratio will be 5/11, meaning the employee will pay additional contributions from their income.
As with the self-employed, from 1 January 2028, the rate will return to the current 15%. The employee/employer ratio within this contribution will change to 5/10.
Residence Permit Extension
The amount of financial security that must be confirmed to the authorities when extending a temporary residence permit (VNZh) is calculated based on the subsistence minimum. Currently, it is 284.13 euros.
When extending the VNZh, individuals must have an amount on their accounts of at least 12, sole traders (živnostníci) – at least 20, and founders of limited liability companies (s.r.o.) – at least 60 subsistence minimums.
Thus, until 30 June 2026 inclusive, the minimum amount of financial security required for extending the VNZh is:
- for individuals — having funds on a bank account of at least 3,409.56 euros;
- for sole traders — confirmation that a taxable income from entrepreneurial activity of at least 5,682.60 euros (after tax) was received in the previous tax period;
- for founders of s.r.o. — receiving taxable income from entrepreneurial activity of at least 17,047.80 euros (after tax).
These amounts will change on 1 July 2026, when the subsistence minimum in Slovakia will be updated.
Transaction Tax
From 1 January, all self-employed individuals will stop paying the much-debated tax on financial transactions for the self-employed.
This tax also became part of the government’s package of measures to consolidate the state budget and came into effect on 1 April 2025. It covered almost all monetary operations related to both cashless and cash payment methods.
VAT Deduction on Car Purchases
From 1 January 2026, new tax regulations will come into effect in Slovakia, significantly changing the procedure for entrepreneurs to claim VAT deductions on passenger cars.
The state is introducing a fixed VAT deduction rate of 50%, which will apply to both the purchase of vehicles and their operating expenses – including fuel, repairs, maintenance, insurance, leasing, parking, and vignette payments.
Under the new rules, even those who use a car 90% for business purposes will only be able to deduct half of the tax amount. A full deduction will only be possible with documented evidence of the car’s exclusive use for business.
More details on the new VAT deduction rules for car purchases can be read here
Tax Amnesty
In the first half of 2026, a tax amnesty — the so-called “general pardon” (generálny pardon) — will be conducted, allowing companies to pay additional taxes without penalties.
Taxpayers with tax arrears as of 30 September 2025 will be able to use the tax amnesty. To benefit from the amnesty, this arrear must be voluntarily paid between 1 January and 30 June 2026. In such a case, the state will waive the imposition of fines and interest on arrears.
It is important that voluntary payment does not include funds collected through administrative proceedings or due to excessive deductions. The amnesty does not apply to debts incurred after 1 October 2025 (inclusive).
The amnesty covers only sanctions related to taxes regulated by special laws:
- income tax,
- VAT,
- excise duties,
- car tax,
- insurance tax.
The amnesty does not apply to:
- advance tax payments,
- deferred taxes,
- instalment tax obligations,
- special sectoral tax for regulated industries,
- solidarity contribution.
Additionally, it does not cover fines and penalties on local taxes and fees, for example, property taxes.