The tax system of the Czech Republic is similar to the systems of other European countries. It consists of direct and indirect taxes.
Direct taxes
Personal income tax
The income of private individuals is taxed at a rate of 15% of gross wage. For employees whose income is 4 times higher than average wage the income tax is 23%.
Real estate tax
Real estate taxes are levied on land and buildings. For land, the tax base is the acreage of the land or its price. The tax rate varies depending on the quality and location of the land and the way it is used.
Road tax
The road tax applies only to vehicles that are used for business. Vehicles that are exclusively for personal use are exempt from this tax. In addition to the road tax, there is a fee for the use of motorways, which must be paid by all vehicles.
Indirect taxes
Value added tax
The majority of taxable transactions in the Czech Republic and imported goods are subject to this tax. There are three VAT rates. The basic VAT rate is 21%, the first reduced VAT rate is 15% (this includes food, accommodation, and catering services), and the second reduced rate is 10%. This rate includes, for example, medicines, books, and home care for children, or the elderly, the sick and the disabled.
Excise tax
Excise taxes are levied mainly on commodities whose demand the state wants to regulate, such as alcohol, beer, wine, tobacco, and tobacco products. The tax usually makes up more than 50% of the price of these goods.