Personal Income Tax (Individuals): Who Must File a Tax Return for 2025?

The deadline for filing a tax return is approaching, and many people are asking the same question: do I have to file a tax return for 2025, or not? In general, you file a tax return if your total taxable income for 2025 exceeded the set limit, if you reported a tax loss from self-employment, or if you were requested to file by the tax authority. Since limits and rules change every year, it’s important to know whether this applies to you.

In this article, you’ll find an explanation of who must (or does not have to) file a tax return for 2025, and which types of income are reported in the tax return.

Quick overview

• When the obligation to file a tax return arises
• When you usually don’t have to file
• Which types of income are reported in the tax return
• Why properly claimed expenses also matter
• What the deadline is and when you can extend it

Who must file a tax return for 2025?

A natural person is required to file a tax return for 2025 mainly if at least one of the following applies:

• your total taxable income for 2025 exceeded 2,876.90 EUR
  This amount is calculated as half of the non-taxable portion of the tax base per taxpayer
• your income did not exceed the limit, but you reported a tax loss from self-employment (trade/business)
• the tax authority requested you to file a tax return

If you run a business, rent out real estate, invest, or have a combination of multiple income sources, this obligation very likely applies to you.

Who does not have to file a tax return for 2025?

You usually don’t have to file a tax return if you meet one of the following conditions:

• your taxable income did not exceed 2,876.90 EUR and you do not have a tax loss
• you had only employment income (or income from work agreements outside standard employment) and you asked your employer for annual tax reconciliation
• you had only income that is tax-exempt (e.g., certain social benefits, or you sold real estate after 5 years from acquiring ownership)
• the income was already taxed by withholding tax and you did not decide to include it in the tax return

Which types of income are reported in the tax return?

The tax return includes taxable income you earned during 2025. Most commonly, these are the following types of income:

1. Employment and work agreements – income from employment or income from work agreements outside standard employment
2. Business and self-employment – income from a trade, income from liberal professions, and other self-employment (lawyers, doctors, tax advisors, etc.)
3. Rental income – renting out a flat, house, room, garage, or land (if the rental is not carried out as part of your business activity)
4. Capital income – e.g., interest on a granted loan, certain investment or securities income, dividends (depends mainly on the source – domestic/foreign)
5. Other income – occasional income, income from the transfer of ownership of real estate, winnings and prizes, income from virtual currency (cryptocurrency), and many others
6. Foreign-source income – if you are a Slovak tax resident and had foreign income (employment, business, rental, or other), you report your worldwide income in your tax return. That’s why it is important to analyze each type of income, the position of the relevant country in relation to Slovakia, and correctly apply the treaty to avoid double taxation, if one exists between the countries

Properly claimed expenses also matter

For many types of income, it’s not only about what you earned, but also about which expenses you can legally claim. The Income Tax Act allows different types of expenses to be applied depending on the type of income:

• lump-sum expenses (for example, for a trade if conditions are met)
• documented expenses recorded in accounting or tax records
• expenses precisely defined by law
• expenses that are defined only in broad terms and require professional assessment to determine whether they meet the conditions of tax deductibility

In addition, not every type of expense can be combined with every type of income. Different rules apply to business income, rental income, capital income, or the sale of assets. Choosing the correct method of claiming expenses can significantly affect your final tax. That’s why knowing only the amount of income is not enough. It’s important to know which regime is legally available to you and, at the same time, the most advantageous.

Who benefits from filing a tax return voluntarily?

Even if you are not required to file a tax return, it is often worth it—especially if it could result in a tax overpayment (refund). Typically, for example, when:

• you worked only part of the year and tax was withheld from your income
• you want to claim the non-taxable portion of the tax base
• you want to claim a tax bonus (e.g., for a child or interest—if conditions are met)

The Income Tax Act does not only set obligations. It also includes many benefits, reliefs, non-taxable amounts, bonuses, and specific taxation regimes that can significantly reduce your tax liability. The problem is that these options are not always obvious at first glance, and details often matter—such as the type of income, its source, combinations of income, family situation, foreign elements, and other circumstances.

By when do you have to file a tax return for 2025?

The standard deadline for filing a tax return this year is 31 March 2026. The deadline can be extended:

• by 3 months (until 30 June 2026)
• by 6 months (until 30 September 2026) if you had income from sources abroad

Frequently asked questions

• Do I have to file a return if I only had employment income?
  No, if you asked your employer to perform annual tax reconciliation
• Do I have to file a return if I had rental income?
  Yes, if your income exceeded the limit that triggers the obligation to file a tax return
• Do I have to file a return if I had foreign income?
  Yes, if you are a Slovak tax resident, you tax your worldwide income in the country of residence
• Is it worth filing a return even without an obligation?
  Yes, especially if you may have a tax overpayment (refund) or if you want to claim reliefs or bonuses

Conclusion

Many people fill in their tax return themselves, feeling that “it’s simple.” However, they often:

• do not apply all legal options
• choose an incorrect taxation procedure
• pay a higher tax unnecessarily
• or create future risk in the event of a tax audit

That’s why the role of a tax advisor is not only to fill in the form correctly, but mainly to identify all legal options that apply to your specific case and apply them correctly.

A tax return is not just an administrative obligation. It is an opportunity to optimize your tax legally and safely.

Contact our tax advisor, who will prepare your 2025 tax return professionally, precisely, and with an emphasis on using all available legal options.

 

 

The above information on this website is intended to give you a basic overview of tax, accounting and legal regulations. It is in no way intended as a guide to their application in practice, which may differ significantly from the legislation in force at any given time. The information on this website does not guarantee legal, accounting, tax or other professional advice or services. As such, the information should not be taken as a substitute for professional consultation with accounting, tax, legal or other advisors. EMINEO PARTNERS shall not be responsible or liable for any discrepancies, omissions or results obtained from the use of this information. All information and examples are provided without any warranty as to their applicability in practice. EMINEO PARTNERS is not obliged to reflect the applicable legislation on the information and examples provided on this website.