BRATISLAVA, March 14, (SITA) – If the government pushes forward the prepared changes in the tax and payroll levy system, it can lead to reduction of the number of the self-employed, claim their representatives. According to President of the Slovak Tradesmen Association (SZZ) Stanislav Cizmarik, in January alone, over 6,000 tradesman reported termination of their activities. “More will probably follow if measures suggested by the government are adopted,” Cizmarik pointed out at Monday’s news conference.
According to representatives of the self-proprietors, problems in the current system need to be resolved, but to eliminate shortcomings at the expense of the self-employed would not be fair. Cizmarik pointed out that the problem of concealing income by some self-proprietors should be eliminated, but not by increasing levies for small-scale tradesmen.
The self-employed are prepared to discuss the prepared changes, Cizmarik further said. The government should, however, concentrate on what most deforms the business environment. According to the association, the main problem is not administrative burden, but poor enforceability of law. The government should make the important changes in this area.
The self-proprietors are not preparing protests against the changes, the SZZ president added. President of the Association of Employers (AZZZ) Tomas Malatinsky expressed a similar position, adding that if the government does not hold talks with representatives of entrepreneurs, “they will have to do something”.
The aim of the tax and levy reform is to eliminate injustice and secure sustainability of the whole system, says Finance Minister Ivan Miklos. According to him, self-proprietors enjoy advantages compared with employees, who pay much higher levies. Some coalition deputies criticize the prepared changes, too.
SITA