A new system of recording payments should see more transparent pricing and easier proofs of purchase, though businesses may be hit.
Czechia is bringing back its electronic sales reporting system (EET), which was paused during COVID-19 but is now slated for a 2027 return. This will mean more digital receipts, greater tax transparency, and possible changes to how you shop.
Initially launched in 2016, EET requires businesses to record sales digitally to reduce tax evasion and modernize accounting. The incoming ANO government says the reboot is part of a push for better tax compliance and a fairer business environment.
“EET will straighten out the business environment and ensure proper tax collection, a basic duty of any developed state,” said ANO chairwoman Alena Schillerová.
What the EET means for shoppers
Expect to see more receipts, digital or printed, and easier warranty claims or returns. Transactions should become more transparent, giving customers confidence that prices are fair and taxes properly reported.
Some businesses may slightly raise prices to offset the administrative costs of digital reporting, but for consumers, the most visible change will be the shift toward more cashless, recorded payments.
How it will affect businesses
Many economists and trade groups welcome EET’s return. Tomáš Prouza, president of the Czech Trade and Tourism Association, told Seznam Zprávy the system promotes fairness:
“There’s no reason for some entrepreneurs to have an unfair advantage over those who follow all the rules and pay taxes as they should.”
He adds, however, that smaller businesses shouldn’t face the same obligations as large ones: “It makes no sense to burden micro-entrepreneurs who make only a few transactions per week.”
The government may consider limited exemptions, though critics warn this could weaken the system’s impact. “The biggest gray zone is among small entrepreneurs,” said Pavel Březina of the Association of Czech Traditional Trade.
Expats.cz reached out to Trinity Bank Chief Economist Lukáš Kovanda, who told us the EET “will help level the competitive environment across various segments of the Czech economy.”
However, he added that “it is unlikely to generate the additional revenue for the public treasury that some politicians promise.” This is because, Kovanda explains, the share of the shadow economy in Czechia is already relatively low by EU standards.
Part of a wider EU trend
Economist Petr Vilím notes that around 20 EU countries have already introduced similar systems. According to research by PAQ Research, reintroducing EET could bring in more than CZK 10 billion annually to the state budget.
The new version of EET is expected to launch in January 2027. For most consumers, that means more digital confirmations (proof of purchase for warranties or returns may also become simpler) and receipts, for businesses, a renewed push toward transparency and digitalization.
