Special Tax Treatments & Digital Assets – Slovakia

Crypto held 1+ year: only 7% tax on gains when sold. Among lowest rates in EU. Massive reduction from previous 19-25% plus health levies. Time test: must hold at least 365 days from acquisition. Applies to Bitcoin, Ethereum, all cryptocurrencies. Health insurance levy abolished for crypto from 2024. Positions Slovakia as attractive crypto destination.

Crypto held less than 1 year: taxed as regular income at progressive rates (19%/25%/30%/35% depending on total income). Mining, staking, frequent trading: classified as business activity, regular income tax applies. Professional traders: may use 15% self-employed rate if annual income under €100,000.

Staking rewards: NOT taxed when received, only when sold for fiat/stablecoins. Crypto-to-crypto swaps: NOT taxable events (e.g., BTC to ETH). Only conversion to fiat currency or stablecoins triggers taxation. Payments under €2,400/year: tax-exempt. Clear regulations reduce uncertainty.

Crypto Asset Service Providers (CASPs) must register and report transactions. Implementation of EU DAC8 directive and OECD CARF framework. Reporting deadlines: May 31 and September 30 annually. Cross-border information exchange with EU member states. Penalties for non-compliance. Enhanced tax transparency. Slovakia already has 550+ registered VASPs.

Online gaming: levy increased from 27% to 30% (effective December 1, 2025). Physical gambling establishments: casinos from 14.3% to higher rate, gambling halls from 16.9% to higher rate. Stricter online gambling regulations. New reporting requirements. Consolidation measure targeting gaming sector.

Non-life insurance tax increased from 8% to 10% from 2026. Applies to insurance premiums. Does NOT include motor vehicle liability insurance. Special levy on collective investment (pension funds, investment companies) increased from 4.36% to 15% - massive jump. Regulatory sector contribution to consolidation.

New fee on extraction of primary raw materials introduced 2026. Applies to: gravel, sand, building stone, crushed rock. Companies with mining permits must pay per tonne extracted. Environmental and resource taxation measure. Additional burden for construction and mining industries.

November 17 permanently removed as public holiday. September 15 and May 8 removed for 2026 only. Retail sales ban limited to: January 1, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, December 24-26. Controversial measure - sparked protests and general strike calls. Effectively adds 3 working days annually.

"Working hours determined by employer" removed from dependent work definition. Expands what qualifies as employment vs. self-employment. Aims to prevent circumvention of Labour Code. More workers may be classified as employees. Affects gig economy, flexible work arrangements. Increased employer obligations.

Months 1-3: 50% of daily assessment base (unchanged). Month 4: 40% (reduced from 50%). Month 5: 30% (reduced from 50%). Month 6: 20% (reduced from 50%). Incentivizes faster return to labour market. Controversial social measure. Significantly reduces support for long-term unemployed.