The Paying Taxes poll made by the PwC company, the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) which compares 189 countries worldwide, found that Slovakia slightly worsened its position against the previous year.
Paying Taxes 2013 placed Slovakia two positions lower than in 2012, at ranking 102 – which is still better than the other Visegrad 4 countries (Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic), but much worse than the best countries, like the UAE or Qatar.
Finance Minister Peter Kažimír reacted, as quoted by the Hospodárske Noviny daily, by saying that the poll is not unbiased, as it compares incomparable countries with different tax systems. However, experts say that the ranking reflects the high tax and levies rate and the level of red tape, while also stating that the tax system is too complex.
The press department of the Finance Ministry reacted by saying that beginning next year, some changes are planned to simplify the communication with tax administrators and the administrative complexity, while also launching the website of the Financial Administration.
The daily comments the poll as showing the Slovak levies and payroll taxes as one of the highest in Europe – trailing only Italy, Belgium and France.
(Source: Hospodárske Noviny)
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
