Self‑Employed Numbers Drop as Tax Changes Push Firms Toward Ltd. Structure

Fiscal consolidation measures are reshaping the relative attractiveness of different business structures. From July, many self‑employed workers who previously paid no payroll levies due to low income will become liable, as the income threshold falls from €9,144 to €2,877 annually. In the year to April, the number of self‑employed fell by 7,000 to 231,000. Employee headcount rose by 13,500 to 1.986m, even as health‑insurance levies for employees increased. The number of Ltd. companies rose by 15,000 to 376,000. The share of job postings for sole‑trader positions on the jobs portal profesia.sk remains steady at around 15%. The overall number of responses to job ads has surged for two years, though less for sole‑trader roles. The total tax and levy burden on employees remains significantly higher than for the self‑employed and Ltd. companies.

(hnonline.sk)