VAT registration Slovakia

Value added tax in Slovakia - Slovakia VAT rates & VAT directive Slovakia

The main source of VAT law Slovakia has, and where one can find VAT guidelines, is the Act No. 222/2004 Coll. on Value Added Tax. In this document one can find information regarding vat registration process Slovakia requires, VAT filings, and more Slovak VAT rules.

Standard VAT rate Slovakia

Slovakian tax has a standard VAT rate of 20%, which is applicable to all items not falling under any of the reduced VAT rates.

Reduced VAT rate Slovakia

It’s possible to pay the reduced VAT Slovakia’s legislation allows, using the one reduced VAT rate Slovakia has established, which equals 10%. Aside from that, entrepreneurs can also benefit from the zero VAT rate.

If you wish to discover which products and services fall under the 10% rate and which qualify for the 0% rate, please refer to our article titled “What VAT rates apply in Slovakia?“.

Mandatory VAT Registration Slovakia

Foreign businesses operating in Slovakia have a VAT mandatory registration to complete, when they:

• engage in the sale of goods and provision of services within Slovakia,
• import and export goods to and from third countries,
• warehouse goods in Slovakia and dispatch them to customers in other European Union member states,
• distance selling – import goods into Slovakia from other EU nations,
• conduct intra-Community distance sales of goods with a total value exceeding 10,000 Euros.

It’s important to highlight that these conditions are applicable to all EU member states. Therefore, if any of the situations mentioned above apply to foreign companies, they are required to proceed with VAT registration in Slovakia.

There is one more significant aspect to consider, which relates to the introduction of a intra-community distance sales of goods limit, effective from July 1, 2021. From this date forward, any foreign company based in an EU Member State that sells goods and services to private consumers in another EU country must take specific actions once their transactions exceed the €10,000 limit. They must choose between registering for local VAT in the destination country and settling VAT there or registering for VAT OSS to handle their sales under this method. On the other hand, until this threshold is reached, businesses have the flexibility to apply the VAT rates applicable in the country from which the goods are dispatched and, consequently, they are subject to VAT settlements in that location.

The VAT registration process Slovakia

The tax office in Slovakia, gives entrepreneurs three options to complete the registration procedure. It’s possible to register for VAT: online, by mail, or in person by submitting a registration application and other necessary documents.

VAT registration procedure – tax authority Slovakia

The tax office Slovakia has established for VAT matters for foreign companies is the Daňový úrad Bratislava (Bratislava tax office). You can contact them at the following address: Radlinského 2778/37, 811 07, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.

The documents required for VAT registration in Slovakia

To facilitate a proper VAT registration with the Slovak tax office, foreign companies are expected to submit the following documents:

• a completed application form,
• the original or a notarized copy of the entry from the commercial register, along with a certified translation into Slovak,
• proof of VAT registration in their home country, also accompanied by a certified translation into Slovak,
• a copy of their identification document (ID),
• a power of attorney in Slovak or Czech, in case an attorney is involved (a must for non-resident / non-EU entrepreneurs).

Keep in mind, that aside from these documents required for VAT registration Slovakia, foreign person registration demands also prior EU VAT registration. Moreover, non-resident foreign companies, with their business established outside of the UE, that seek Slovak VAT registration, need to use the services of tax representative Slovakia.

Slovak VAT number - VAT ID validation

The VAT number in Slovakia (Slovak company VAT number) begins with the prefix SK followed by 10 digits.

Slovak VAT obligations - VAT filings Slovakia & VAT payments Slovakia

Upon VAT registration in Slovakia, businesses are subject to specific obligations that must be met. A Slovak VAT payer in Slovakia must fulfil several requirements, including settling VAT in Slovakia or using the VAT OSS system in their home country (provided it is an EU Member State). Furthermore, they are obligated to submit local VAT returns, with the option to choose between filing monthly or quarterly.

VAT tax returns Slovakia – reporting frequency and payment deadline

Monthly VAT returns are the default option for all businesses and are mandatory for new taxpayers for a minimum of 12 months. On the other hand, quarterly VAT returns are designed for entrepreneurs whose turnover does not exceed EUR 100,000.

Regarding the deadline for filing Slovak VAT returns, it falls on the 25th day of the month following the accounting tax period Slovakia’s legislation define.

Remember it’s essential to fulfill VAT obligations in time, as failing in doing so or not making it in time may result in VAT-related penalties.

Slovak registration for VAT guide - summary

The European Union has set VAT guidelines, according to which member states then establish their final VAT regulations and the main directive Slovakia has is the Act No. 222/2004 Coll. on Value Added Tax, including the VAT registration details.

The process of VAT registration in Slovakia is a critical step for businesses looking to establish a presence in this market. It’s worth noting that specific situations may compel foreign companies to obtain a Slovak VAT number. These situations encompass activities like selling goods and providing services within Slovakia, engaging in the import and export of goods, warehousing goods, and participating in various transactions within the European Union.

Should you require assistance with VAT registration in Slovakia, the European Union, or the UK, please do not hesitate to reach out. Schedule a free consultation, specify your needs, and our team of VAT Compliance specialists will handle the rest!