SNS to Propose Scrapping Transaction Tax for Sole Traders and Small Firms

Bratislava, April 9 (TASR) - The coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) will propose that the financial transaction tax should be scrapped for sole traders and companies with a turnover of up to €100,000 at the current or next parliamentary session, SNS chairman Andrej Danko stated on Wednesday, noting that the measure should come into force as of mid-year. Danko added that across-the-board abolition of the transaction tax would be irresponsible for the time being. He has already held talks with the Finance Ministry and prefers to communicate with representatives of the governing coalition. The transaction tax should be scrapped for sole traders and for companies that recorded a turnover of up to €100,000 last year as of July 30 this year. "Proposals put forward by the opposition, such as absolute across-the-board abolition, would be irresponsible with regard to other expenditures in the state budget, which the finance minister [Ladislav Kamenicky (Smer-SD)] is counting on," Danko told a press conference in Parliament, adding that the changes that SNS wants to push through won't jeopardise the budget. In the case of larger companies, which should continue to be subject to the transaction tax, more discussion is needed, said Danko. "We want to give the Finance Ministry room to find the mistakes in the transaction tax, including individual technical things or the setting of the transaction tax," he stated, adding that a working group could also be created to evaluate all the comments. The SNS leader praised talks with the Finance Ministry, which, according to him, have so far been positive regarding sole traders. Small companies with a turnover of up to €100,000 are to be discussed further. "However, if the Finance Ministry doesn't give us a positive opinion on this, SNS will submit it anyway at this or the next meeting in May. We insist in our caucus on the abolition of the transaction tax for sole traders and companies with a turnover of up to €100,000," he added. am/df