The 26 Czech words you will meet most as a self-employed person, on invoices, tax forms and letters from the authorities, with English, German and Dutch side by side.
One word, three meanings: záloha
- Zálohová faktura: an invoice for a deposit, before the work is done.
- Zálohy na pojistné: your monthly social and health insurance advances.
- Záloha na daň: income tax paid in advance, 2 or 4 times a year, or not at all.
In English all three are called deposits, advances or prepayments, which is why they are so easy to mix up.
Invoicing and payments
| Čeština | English | Deutsch | Nederlands |
|---|---|---|---|
| fakturaA tax document (daňový doklad) once you are VAT registered. | invoice | Rechnung | factuur |
| zálohová fakturaA request for payment up front. Not a tax document. | advance (deposit) invoice | Vorschussrechnung, Anzahlungsrechnung | voorschotfactuur |
| vyúčtovací (konečná) fakturaSettles the job and deducts the deposits paid. | final invoice | Schlussrechnung | eindfactuur |
| opravný daňový doklad (dobropis)Corrects or cancels an earlier invoice. | credit note | Gutschrift, Rechnungskorrektur | creditnota |
| účtenka, pokladní doklad | receipt | Quittung, Beleg | bon, kwitantie |
| datum splatnosti | due date | Fälligkeitsdatum | vervaldatum |
| variabilní symbolUsually the invoice number; also used for tax and insurance payments. | payment reference | Verwendungszweck, Referenznummer | betalingskenmerk |
Tax and VAT
| Čeština | English | Deutsch | Nederlands |
|---|---|---|---|
| příjmy, tržby | revenue, income | Einnahmen, Umsatz | omzet |
| výdajeWith the 60/40 method, 60% of revenue counts as expenses. | expenses | Ausgaben, Betriebsausgaben | kosten, uitgaven |
| daňové přiznání k dani z příjmů | income tax return | Einkommensteuererklärung | aangifte inkomstenbelasting |
| záloha na daňPaid 2 or 4 times a year, depending on your last tax bill. Many self-employed people pay none. | tax advance (tax prepayment, tax deposit) | Steuervorauszahlung | voorlopige aanslag |
| paušální daňOne monthly payment for tax, social and health insurance. | flat-tax method | Pauschalsteuer | vaste maandelijkse belasting |
| DPH (daň z přidané hodnoty) | VAT | Umsatzsteuer, MwSt. | btw |
| přiznání k DPH | VAT return | USt-Voranmeldung | btw-aangifte |
| nadměrný odpočetMore VAT paid on purchases than charged on sales. | VAT refund | Vorsteuerüberhang, USt-Erstattung | btw-teruggave |
| DIČCZ + number. | tax ID, VAT number | Steuernummer, USt-IdNr. | fiscaal nummer, btw-id |
Social and health insurance
| Čeština | English | Deutsch | Nederlands |
|---|---|---|---|
| sociální pojištění (ČSSZ) | social security | Sozialversicherung | sociale verzekeringen |
| zdravotní pojištění (VZP) | health insurance | Krankenversicherung | zorgverzekering |
| zálohy na pojistnéPaid every month, separately to ČSSZ and to your health insurer. | monthly social and health insurance advances | monatliche Vorauszahlungen zur Sozial- und Krankenversicherung | maandelijkse voorschotten sociale en zorgverzekering |
| přehled o příjmech a výdajích OSVČFiled after the income tax return. | annual overview for social and health insurance | Jahresübersicht für Sozial- und Krankenversicherung | jaaroverzicht voor sociale en zorgverzekering |
Offices and paperwork
| Čeština | English | Deutsch | Nederlands |
|---|---|---|---|
| živnostenský list | trade license | Gewerbeschein | inschrijving als zelfstandige |
| IČO8 digits; goes on every invoice. | business ID number | Identifikationsnummer (IČO) | bedrijfsnummer (zoals het KvK-nummer) |
| finanční úřad | tax office | Finanzamt | Belastingdienst |
| datová schránkaOfficial letters arrive here, not by post. | data box | digitales Behördenpostfach | digitale berichtenbox (zoals MijnOverheid) |
| plná moc | power of attorney | Vollmacht | volmacht |
| úředně ověřený podpisSigned in front of an official at CzechPOINT or a notary. Bring a page in Czech only: papers with English text are often refused. | certified signature (often called “notarised”) | amtlich beglaubigte Unterschrift | gelegaliseerde handtekening |
| autorizovaná konverzeCzechPOINT turns a signed paper into a PDF that counts as the original. | certified conversion (paper to PDF) | autorisierte Konversion | gewaarmerkte omzetting |
| formulář, tiskopis | form | Formular | formulier |
The translations give the closest everyday equivalent. Czech rules behind a word can differ from those in your home country: a zálohová faktura, for example, is not a tax document.
