Danko: Working Group to Start Addressing Transaction Tax Over Summer (2)

Bratislava, 3 June (TASR) - The coalition's SNS party does not intend to push for changes to the transaction tax during the special emergency session of Parliament, due to be convened by the opposition in July, but a working group will set to work over the summer instead to resolve technical issues related to the tax so that the relevant amendment can be approved at the regular parliamentary session in September, SNS chair Andrej Danko stated at a press conference on Tuesday. Danko responded this way to a vote earlier in the day, during which Parliament, with the support of nearly all present MPs, moved to the second reading the SNS proposal to abolish the transaction tax for sole traders and small businesses with a turnover of up to €100,000. However, this reading is expected to take place as late as at the September session, with changes set to take effect as of October. The opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party has announced its intention to initiate an earlier special session on the matter. "I understand their effort, but a special session on this issue will not be technically possible. We'll do everything to ensure it gets approved in September," said Danko. Regarding Tuesday’s vote, he thanked all MPs, both coalition and opposition, who supported the SNS proposal. However, he emphasized that solutions should be sought within the coalition. The SNS chairman suggested that some sole traders could even be reimbursed for the paid tax, though retroactivity might become an issue. Further negotiations with the Finance Ministry are still needed. "But sole traders and small companies with a turnover up to €100,000 can be reassured that, under the fastest possible legislative process, they likely won't have to pay [the tax] in the autumn, and definitely not the next year anymore," Danko underlined. According to Danko, the working group will focus on the "anomalies of the transaction tax." A key principle should be the prohibition of double taxation. "So, the summer will be used for that, and if we want to present a state budget for next year to the public and fix the current flaws, we need time," Danko added. Danko declared that he supports the complete abolition of the transaction tax, but at the moment, that is not feasible. "If I were to abolish the transaction tax completely, this government would collapse. It would be impossible to draft a budget for next year," the SNS chairman explained, emphasizing that cooperation with coalition partners remains important for him. "But I will do everything I can to ensure that in the future, the transaction tax is entirely abolished." mf