Submitting your tax report online: 6 things to know
Filing taxes in a foreign country can be a challenge. The Czech online system makes it a manageable challenge. We invited a tax expert, Jana Střelická from Auditor, to explain the process. This article summarizes the most important points. It covers the rules for your 2025 income, which you need to report in 2026.
If you want a full, step-by-step guide, you can watch the complete webinar:
1] Filing online gives you an extra month [9:00]
The standard deadline for paper forms is 1 April. However, if you submit your tax report electronically, your deadline is automatically moved to 4 May.
Keep in mind that the deadline for filing is also the deadline for paying any tax you owe. If you are late with the filing, you may face a fine, and late payments will result in interest charges. Using the online system is a great way to get more time to organize your documents and avoid mistakes.
Here is where you start: adisspr.mfcr.cz/pmd/epo/formulare
2] Don’t assume your employer has done everything [3:40]
Most employees have their taxes settled by their employer by 15 February. However, you must file your own tax report if:
- You earned more than 50,000 CZK from freelance work (OSVČ).
- You had other income beside your employment contract (like rent, dividends, or selling shares) that was more than 20,000 CZK.
Many employers also prefer international staff to file independently because residency status can be complex. Your residency affects which deductions you can claim and how your worldwide income is taxed.
3] Freelancers: the 60% flat-rate expense [29:00]
If you work on a trade license (OSVČ) in fields such as IT, design, or consulting, you can use a simplified method called the “paušál”.
Instead of keeping every single receipt, you can simply deduct 60% of your total income as expenses. Even if your real costs were much lower, you are legally allowed to use this flat rate. For example, if you earned 300,000 CZK, you can claim a deduction of 180,000 CZK without any paperwork for your expenses.
4] Deductions you might miss [33:55]
You can reduce the amount of tax you pay by using personal deductions. Common examples include:
- Mortgage interest: You can deduct this if the property is your main home in the Czech Republic.
- Charitable donations: These are deductible if they are at least 1,000 CZK (always keep your receipts).
- Blood donations: Each donation reduces your tax base by 3,000 CZK.
5] Living in Brno means reporting global income [52:35]
If you are a tax resident here (meaning you spend most of your time in Czechia and it is the centre of your interests), you must report all your income from around the world. This includes rent from property abroad, international dividends, or money from work done in another country.
You generally do not pay tax twice because the Czech Republic has double taxation treaties with most countries. Also, if you have tax-exempt income (like selling a house abroad) that is worth more than 5 million CZK, you must still notify the tax office to avoid a fine.
6] The hybrid submission option [42:45]
If you do not want to use a digital signature or Bank ID (Bankovní identita), there is a middle ground:
- Use the official online filing wizard to fill out the form and calculate the tax.
- Print out the single confirmation page.
- Sign this page by hand and take it to your local tax office (Finanční úřad). In Brno, the main office is on Příkop.
This method gives you the mathematical accuracy of the digital tool while retaining the comfort of a physical paper trail.
Next steps
Filing your tax report is only the first part. If you are a freelancer, you also need to submit annual reports to the social security office (ČSSZ) and your health insurance company. Read more about your obligations as a freelancer in our guide Being self-employed >>
We’d like to thank Jana Střelická for her expertise and assistance in making this webinar. You may contact her for questions about your tax situation, as she can help you file a tax declaration correctly.
If you are unsure whether you need to file or require further assistance, the Brno Expat Centre offers free guidance and consultations. Tax rules are subject to change; always confirm the current details with a qualified advisor or on the official Czech tax authority website (financnisprava.cz/en).