Getting paid in Czechia: freelancers and international clients

The work is done, the client in Berlin is delighted, and then comes the question nobody put in the contract: where exactly does the money go, in which currency and with what paper? Getting paid is the unglamorous half of freelancing in Prague, and it is where a good month turns bad. This guide covers the mechanics. It does not replace an accountant, and it assumes you already trade legally; if you do not, start with freelancing in Prague: how a trade licence works.

Set up the account first

You need a bank account that can receive what your clients send. Czech banks give you a domestic account number and an IBAN, and the IBAN plus the bank's BIC (SWIFT) code is what a foreign client needs. Many banks also offer euro accounts or other currencies, and you can ask what suits your client mix. See best banks for foreigners and opening a bank account.

A neobank account with a foreign IBAN may work for some clients, but a Czech account is usually simpler for your tax and social insurance payments. Keep business money separate from personal spending. It makes your tax return and your accountant's life simpler.

What a Czech invoice should say

An invoice (faktura) that gets paid fast is precise. At minimum include:

• Your name or business name, address and IČO (the identification number from your trade registration).
• The client's name and address, and their tax ID if they are a business.
• The invoice number, issue date and due date.
• A clear description of the work.
• The amount, the currency and, if you are a VAT payer, the VAT.
• Your IBAN and BIC, and a payment reference (variable symbol) if you use one.

Write the invoice in English for a foreign client, and in Czech or bilingually for a Czech one. Czech QR codes can help domestic clients pay in seconds; see Czech QR payments.

Currency and fees

You can invoice in euros, dollars or pounds. Say plainly which currency, because a client can otherwise pay in a different one and the bank converts it at its own rate. The bank or the sender may charge fees for international transfers. Agree who bears them (for example, the sender pays all charges) in the contract or on the invoice. See sending money abroad from Prague for the cost traps, which apply in reverse for incoming money.

Your income is reported in Czech crowns for tax, so keep a record of the dates and exchange rates. Ask your accountant which rate method applies to you.

VAT in plain terms

If your turnover over a calendar year passes CZK 2,000,000, you become a VAT payer from 1 January of the next year. If you pass CZK 2,536,500 during the year, you become a payer from the next day (as of 2026; check Finanční správa). VAT rates are 21% and 12%. Below the threshold, you can still be required to handle VAT in certain cross-border situations, for example when you supply services to businesses elsewhere in the EU. That is a question for an accountant or the tax office, not for guesswork.

For the rest of your tax position, see filing a Czech tax return. The flat-rate expense options for the self-employed, and the lump-sum tax (paušální daň), change the maths of what you keep. Social and health insurance advances apply too; see Czech social security basics.

Chasing late payment

Agree payment terms in writing before the work starts: a due date, a currency, who pays the fees. Many freelancers ask for an advance on larger jobs or split the invoice into stages.

If a payment is late, send a polite reminder the day after the due date, then a firmer one. Czech law provides statutory late-payment interest: the ČNB repo rate on the first day of the half-year plus 8 percentage points, fixed for the whole delay (government decree 351/2013 Sb.), and in some cases a flat compensation of CZK 1,200 per claim (as of 2026; check the official source). Your contract can set its own terms within the law.

Keep all communication in writing. If it goes nowhere, get legal advice before you take further steps.

Platforms, advances and cash flow

If you are paid through a platform or a payment service, the platform pays out to your bank account, usually after deducting its fees and converting the currency at its own rate. Your invoicing and tax duties remain yours, so keep the platform's statements with your invoices. Check which currency it pays out in and what it charges to convert.

Cash flow is the other practical issue. A Czech freelancer pays insurance advances and tax on a schedule, regardless of when clients pay. Keep a small reserve so that a late invoice does not become a missed payment to the social security or health insurer. For larger jobs, ask for an advance or split the work into stages with an invoice for each.

Keep your records tidy. File each invoice, the matching payment and any correspondence, and store them for as long as your accountant advises. When the tax office asks a question two years later, you will answer it in minutes.

Frequently asked questions

Can I invoice a foreign client in euros?

Yes. State the currency clearly, and keep records of the exchange rate for your tax return.

What bank details does a foreign client need?

Your account holder name, IBAN and BIC (SWIFT) code.

Do I need to charge VAT?

It depends on whether you are a VAT payer and on the client and the service. The registration threshold is CZK 2,000,000 turnover in a calendar year (as of 2026; check Finanční správa).

What if the client pays late?

Send reminders in writing. Czech law allows statutory late-payment interest and a flat compensation in some cases (as of 2026; check the official source).

Do I need a Czech account to get paid?

Not always, but it simplifies tax and insurance payments.

Today: open your invoice template and check it has your IČO, IBAN, BIC, currency and due date.

This is a general explainer, not legal or tax advice.