The AmCham Investment Committee hosted representatives of FURS at a meeting held at the law firm Rojs, Peljhan, Prelesnik & Partners. The dialogue included Director General Peter Grum, Anja Koščak, Deputy Director of the Tax Administration at the General Financial Office, and Mateja Bahar, Senior Inspector, Administration for Supervision, Financial Supervision Sector, Department for Large Taxpayers and Transfer Pricing, together with members of the AmCham Investment Committee and the AmCham Finance Committee.

Mojca Bartol Lesar, Partner, PwC Slovenia, and Aleksander Ferk, Director of Tax, PwC Slovenia, highlighted several areas and practical cases where companies and potential investors see challenges, including income taxation, labour costs, and transfer pricing.

Participants agreed that Slovenia is among the more heavily taxed countries in the region, largely due to high social security contributions. One step towards a more attractive tax environment, which could also help attract foreign talent, would be a more favourable tax treatment of annual bonuses and employee rewards (e.g., ESOP schemes, already standard in many EU countries). Committee members also pointed to the limited scope of tax incentives for start-ups and innovative companies, as well as complicated (bureaucratic) procedures for claiming R&D and investment reliefs.

Both sides agreed that the right path to a competitive business environment is through dialogue with the business community. FURS has for some time been addressing major taxpayers individually and organizing consultations with various business stakeholders. AmCham Slovenia and its advocacy will continue to work towards a competitive business environment and an attractive living environment in Slovenia.