- The consolidation package introduces new obligations for sole traders.
- Measures could reduce the number of tradesmen and businesses
- The aim is to stabilize the public finances of the Slovak Republic.
The third consolidation package Published on Tuesday (9. 9.) Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenický (Smer-SD) It will bring not only new costs for entrepreneurs, but also a reduction in income and income from business due to the decline in the overall purchasing power of the population and further loss of competitiveness. On Wednesday, the Slovak Trade Association (SŽZ) drew attention to this, according to which it can cause a reduction in the number of sole traders, the extinction of their enterprises or the transformation to the SRo or the transfer of a trade to another EU Member State.
“The Slovak Trade Licensing Association is aware of the urgency of consolidation measures for stabilization of public finances, as, as mentioned in the presentation of the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic, Slovakia is already on the Greek Road. He said SŽZ.
From the Consolidation Package 22 measures of the tradesmen immediately affect the shortening of the so -called. levy holidays From the current 12, respectively. In rare cases 18-21 months, for six months, associated with the introduction new compulsory payments for social insurance funds of EUR 131.34 per month.
At the same time the Ministry of Finance It prepares an increase in the assessment base for calculating the taxes of self -employed persons (self -employed) from the current 50 % to 60 % of the average wage In the economy two years ago, and this is the associated jump increase of mandatory minimum levies by 20 %. Another measure is an increase in health contributions by 1 %, which will increase the total levy of self -employed for health insurance to 15 % of the assessment base. Partial impacts for self -employed will also have measures directed to employers.
SŽZ also sees the positives of the consolidation package. By introducing a levy on the sixth month Entrepreneurs will receive social protection in the form of entitlement to sickness and nursing, albeit in a low area, and in the future also a longer worked period for the purpose of determining the entitlement to the old -age pension. “It will also contribute to improving the situation with fictitious trades, where, in addition to the possibility of posting abroad to work throughout the EU, indisputable motivation is already mentioned already mentioned 12- to 21-month levy of self-employed,” the union said.
Self -employed would welcome, for example, an increase in the rates of health levies or an increase in the assessment base to 60 % of the average wage are limited to the necessary time, eg. For the period 2026 and 2027, and then returned to the current levels. In connection with the announced increase in the levy burden, they also called on the cancellation of the transactional tax for debit operations from business bank accounts.
