What levies does a sole trader pay in Slovakia?
From January 2026, a government consolidation package comes into effect, significantly increasing the minimum contributions for sole traders and self-employed persons (SZČO). While in the past these were only minor annual adjustments, this time it represents a major systemic change that will affect hundreds of thousands of sole traders across Slovakia. Sole trader contributions in 2026 consist of advance payments to the health insurance company of at least €121.96 and contributions to the Social Insurance Institution of at least €252.59. The total minimum monthly contributions for sole traders (including SZČO) amount to €425.03.
Zdieľať
The minimum contributions for a sole trader from January 2026 are €425.03 per month.
The minimum health insurance contribution is calculated from the minimum assessment base of €762, to which the applicable contribution rate is applied. From 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2027, temporarily increased rates are in effect. The minimum amount of health insurance contributions is €121.92.
Minimum monthly contributions to the Social Insurance Institution in 2026 are calculated as 33.15% of the minimum assessment base. This base is set at €762, which means that sole traders will pay minimum contributions of €252.59 per month.
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Immediately after setting up a trade, an entrepreneur needs to pay just down payments for health insurance – EUR 91.28 per month (this does not apply to state insured persons, e.g. students).
Social contributions come after, usually a year later.
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If you want to know what a sole trader has to pay, watch this video (in Slovak language).
Social security contributions
“Contribution holidays” have been shortened to 6 months in 2026. The obligation to pay social insurance contributions arises from the first day of the 6th calendar month following the month in which the sole trader (self-employed person – SZČO) started their business activity.
From January 2026, minimum contributions to the Social Insurance Institution are also increasing, and these are mandatory for all self-employed persons (SZČO) for whom this obligation has arisen. Social insurance consists of several components, with a total contribution rate of 33.15% of the assessment base, broken down as follows:
- Sickness insurance: 4.4%
- Old-age (retirement) insurance: 18%
- Disability insurance: 6%
- Reserve fund of solidarity: 4.75%
The minimum assessment base in 2026 is €914.40. Based on this, the minimum contributions to the Social Insurance Institution from 1 January 2026 amount to €303.11 per month.
At the same time, the maximum assessment base (i.e. the highest amount from which contributions are calculated) is also being adjusted. From January 2026, it increases from €15,730 to €16,764 per month. The maximum social insurance contributions in 2026 therefore reach €5,557.27 per month.
A sole trader who operated a business in the previous year and paid social contributions in 2025 will continue to pay them from the beginning of 2026, at the increased amount of €303.11.
The sole trader does not need to take any action, as the Social Insurance Institution will automatically notify them by 21 July 2026 about the creation, continuation, or termination of mandatory social insurance, as well as the corresponding amount of their contribution obligation.
The amount of social contributions changes twice a year. In January, the change depends on increases in assessment bases set by the state, and in July/October it depends on tax returns filed by sole traders in March/June.
How exactly do social contributions work? Watch in this video:
Health insurance
From January 2026, the health insurance contribution rate increases from 15% to 16% of the assessment base. For sole traders with officially recognized severe disability (ŤZP), a reduced rate of 8% applies.
The minimum assessment base for health insurance in 2026 is set at €762 per month.
Find out all about how health levies work in this video.
Income tax for 2025
The tax return for 2025 must be filed in March 2026 if the taxpayer’s total taxable income for 2025 exceeds EUR 2,876,90.
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There are 3 tax rates for sole traders:
• 15 percent of the tax base, up to a turnover of EUR 100 000 in 2025,
• 19 per cent of the tax base which does not exceed EUR 48 441,43,
• 25 per cent of the tax base that exceeds EUR 41,445.46.
Flat-rate expenditure. For 2023, flat-rate expenditures of 60 per cent of the income of the self-employed person still apply, up to a maximum of EUR 20,000 per year (irrespective of the number of months of business).
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