Why do we do Business?
An Almost Philosophical Question That Can Lead to a Variety of Answers. For now, I will limit myself to one perspective: increasing the value of a business, specifically one’s own company. Entrepreneurs should be interested in the value of their business and under what conditions they could sell it.
Business can have many meanings – from fulfilling personal ambitions to innovation and creating value for society. However, one pragmatic goal is to build a company and then sell it advantageously. This approach is not just about financial profit but also about efficiency and strategic thinking.
Building a company means creating something that has value not only for customers but also for potential investors or buyers.
This includes stable financial results, a quality product or service, and a strong brand. A successful sale is not just about numbers but also about whether the company can function independently of its founder.
Many of us worry whether selling a company is a betrayal of our own efforts. In reality, it can be a natural culmination of the entrepreneurial journey – an opportunity to move on to new challenges, hand over the company to good hands, and capitalize on years of hard work. The meaning of business does not have to be just in building but also in the right timing of the exit.
Are You Considering Selling Your Business?
Until recently, Czech tax regulations exempted personal income from the sale of business shares and securities from taxation, provided that the only condition for such a tax exemption was the holding period of the business share (5 years) or shares (3 years).
With tax changes effective from 2025, new restrictions on such tax benefits are being introduced. From now on, income from the sale of business shares and securities is tax-exempt only up to CZK 40 million. The holding period conditions for these assets remain unchanged.
In practice, this means that while until the end of 2024, if you sold your limited liability company (s.r.o.) that you had built for more than five years, you wouldn’t pay a single koruna in tax, in 2025, you will need to check whether a tax liability arises. If the sale price exceeds CZK 40 million, tax must be paid on the amount exceeding this limit.
A Valuation Report Can Help Reduce Tax Liability!
However, the law allows for taxation only on the portion of the income that exceeds both the CZK 40 million threshold and the value of the business as of the end of 2024. In other words, if you are considering selling your assets (business share or securities) and expect a sale price higher than CZK 40 million, you should consider obtaining a professional valuation report assessing the value of the asset as of December 31, 2024.
Intras Consulting, a.s. can prepare such a court-expert valuation report, effectively reducing the taxation of future income.