End of the emergency situation in the financial area as of 30 September 2020

On 22.9.2020 the National Council of the Slovak Republic approved the amendment to Act No. 67/2020 on certain emergency measures in the financial area in connection with the spread of the dangerous contagious human disease COVID-19, as amended, which ends the emergency situation and ends the pandemic period for the purposes of applying specific financial measures, including tax measures. Below we summarize the most important changes and deadlines in the tax area.

Deadline for filing the income tax return for 2019

By the cancellation of the emergency situation, the official deadline for filing income tax returns for 2019 was set at 2.11.2020, the first working day after the end of the month following the end of the pandemic period.

Deadline for payment of income tax for 2019

Within the deadline for filing the income tax return, the taxpayer is also obliged to pay the respective tax, i.e. not later than 2.11.2020. This deadline also applies to taxpayers who filed the tax return during the pandemic period but have not paid the tax yet.

Income tax prepayments for 2020

By the cancellation of the pandemic period, all taxpayers are obliged to pay income tax prepayments based on the tax return submitted for the taxable period 2019, i.e. for the first time for November 2020 due as of 30.11.2020. More favorable income tax prepayments applied according to the regulations, which were in force during the pandemic period can be claimed by taxpayers for the last time for October 2020 due as of 2.11.2020

For the last time, taxpayers can pay income tax prepayments according to the income tax return for 2018 in October 2020 due as at 2.11.2020. This shall apply provided that the payment of tax prepayments had not been specified otherwise.

The possibility of non-payment of income tax prepayments due to a decrease of revenues by at least 40% can be applied for the last time on income tax prepayments due in September 2020.

At the same time, we would like to point out that taxpayers are not obliged to settle the difference in income tax prepayments incurred due to the payment of lower or no tax prepayments during the pandemic period. 

Deferral of tax payment or payment of tax in installments

In the case that the taxpayer is unable to settle his income tax liability for 2019 within the statutory deadline, there is an option to request the Tax Authority on deferral of the tax payment or to pay the tax in installments in accordance with the conditions specified by Act no. 563/2009 Coll. on tax administration.

Annual tax reconciliation of employees

The employer is obliged to make the annual tax reconciliation of his employees not later than at 2.11.2020. By the end of the second month after the end of the pandemic period, i.e. by 30.11.2020, he is obliged to deliver to the employees a document on the performed annual tax reconciliation. At the same time, he is obliged to return the tax overpayment to the employee at the latest when paying the salary for the month of November 2020 in the payment period in December 2020.

Declaration on an assignment of a portion of income tax paid

Employees have the opportunity to assign a portion of the income tax paid to the non-profit sector until 30.11.2020. Within this period, it is necessary to deliver the Tax Authority with a declaration on an assignment of a portion of the tax paid together with the confirmation of payment of the tax issued by the employer. The employer is obliged to provide this confirmation to the employees by 16.11.2020

Submission of a report on tax reconciliation and aggregate income from dependent activities for the year 2019

The deadline for employer's obligation to report on tax reconciliation and aggregate income from dependent activities for the year 2019 is set at 30.11.2020 due to the end of the pandemic period. Within this deadline, the employer is also obliged to settle the income tax from dependent activity.

In the case of an unfavorable financial situation, the employer has the option of applying for a deferral of tax payment or for payment of tax in installments.

Compilation and filing of financial statements in the register of financial statements for 2019

The emergency situation in the financial area also postponed the deadline for the preparation of financial statements, the annual report, the verification of financial statements by auditors as well as filing of accounting documents into the register of financial statements. The deadline for taxpayers filing a tax return, is the same as the deadline for filing a tax return, i.e. not later than 2.11.2020, as they are obliged to submit the financial statements not later than on the day of filing the income tax return.

Motor vehicle tax obligations

In the case of a postponed deadline for filing a tax return on motor vehicle tax, a new one was set at 2.11.2020, also the tax is due within the same deadline.

The taxpayer is not obliged to settle prepayments for moto vehicle tax due in the pandemic period and will be settled when submitting the tax return in January 2021.

Measures in the area of tax administration

The end of the pandemic period also terminates the exemptions provided in the area of tax administration. From 1.10.2020, the following come into force again:

  • obligation to deliver documents also in paper form
  • remission of the delay expires
  • tax controls and tax proceedings suspended due to a pandemic are resumed
  • running of deadlines is restored
  • tax arrears are considered as a tax arrears again
  • tax executions are resumed

Update of lists of Financial Administration

From 1.1.2021, the Financial Administration of the Slovak Republic will publish again updated lists, i.e. list of tax debtors, list of value-added taxpayers for whom there has arisen reasons for cancellation of registration, list of deleted VAT payers.