Slovaks worked for the state for a record 36 days longer

From every single euro generated in the Slovak economy, the state will take and redistribute 50 cents this year.

Illustrative stock photoIllustrative stock photo (Source: AP/TASR)
Everything you need to know about the Slovak business environment. For more details visit shop.spectator.sk.Everything you need to know about the Slovak business environment. For more details visit shop.spectator.sk. (Source: Investment Guide)

Slovaks stopped working for the state on July 1, and are now working for themselves and their families.

It took a record 182 days to repay this year’s bill for the operation of public administration and municipalities.

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Tax Freedom Day fell this year to June 30, which is 36 days longer than in 2019, according to the F. A. Hayek Foundation. Last year, it fell on May 27.

It has been the worst result since 1999, when the measurements started, and the highest annual drop.

Worse state redistribution

Tax Freedom Day is a symbolic day by which people give all their earnings to the state, and after which they start keeping their entire earnings.

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The delay of Tax Freedom Day was impacted by the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic and the irresponsible economic management of the previous government. Especially before the February 2020 election, the country witnessed a massive increase in costs exceeding the approved 2020 budget, for example, by introducing the 13th pensions. President Zuzana Čaputová has already challenged how the change was approved in the parliament at the Constitutional Court.

Slovaks will work longer to pay their taxes this year than at any other time in history Read more 

The estimated rate of GDP redistribution in the Slovak economy for 2020 is 49.98 percent. This means that from every single euro generated in the country’s economy, the state takes and redistributes 50 cents.

The rate stood at 39.91 percent of GDP last year, which means that state redistribution has worsened much more than in previous years.

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Less than half of labour costs

Several predictions forecast that the Slovak economy will slump significantly this year. The recent IFP prognosis, for example, expects it to contract by 9.8 percent.

Investmet Guide: Your key to understanding the Slovak business environment Read more 

After employers pay all taxes and levies, employees are left with 47 cents from each euro they receive for their work. This means that more than half (some 53 cents) is consumed by compulsory tax and payroll tax payments. This has not changed much compared to the past, but there has been certain improvement in 2020.

While in 2019, an employees could keep 44.85 percent of labour costs, this year it is 47.39 percent.

This is mostly thanks to the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, as Slovaks started to save more. Another reason is a significant increase in non-taxable part of the tax base, making it possible to keep €31 more than in the past.

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