CORONAVIRUS: Legal implications for businesses in the Czech Republic

At its meeting on 18 May 2020, the Government approved by Resolution No. 553 the Covid III guarantee program for self-employed persons and companies employing up to 500 employees. Immediately afterwards, the websites of Českomoravská záruční a rozvojová banka, a.s. ("ČMZRB") published the conditions of the program. Entrepreneurs can already start loan negotiations with a commercial bank involved in the program. According to the experience of previous Covid programs, it is necessary to act quickly.

The government has started the announce the dismantling of certain Covid19 measures and from Monday, April 27, 2020, it now allows business trips for foreigners to the Czech Republic, in respect of which  entrepreneurs have been repeatedly demanding. However, it set a number of conditions and rules. 

The new COVID Prague program focused on business activities in the Capital City of Prague followed the fate of its predecessors COVID I and COVID II. This means that the available funds were exhausted on the same day as the receipt of applications, which thus ends. The COVID I and COVID II programs are also exhausted. Entrepreneurs thus have no choice but to wait for the announcement of the conditions of the COVID III program. What should be its parameters?

VAT payers, who have monthly obligations, may no longer be oriented in the flood of newly adopted tax measures to help taxpayers to overcome the current situation caused by the spread of the coronavirus. For this reason, we provide a brief overview of the tax measures specifically related to VAT and add some important remarks that should be kept in mind.

When and how can contact with a counterparty be avoided and the document signed electronically? Is it possible to consider the electronic way of signing relevant for the eligibility of such a conclusion of a contract and how does Czech legislation and case-law treat this?