Expert Insights

The Expat Finance Blog

Practical guides on Czech mortgages, insurance, taxes, and investing, written for expats, by registered advisors.

All articles

Guides

How to Choose a Financial Advisor in Czechia

Verify any advisor on the ČNB register, understand tied agents, how they are paid, and the red flags to avoid. A vendor-neutral guide.

Investments

Investing in Czechia as a US Citizen: PFIC & FATCA

Why EU funds are usually PFICs for US persons, what FATCA means in Czechia, and why you need US-tax-aware advice. Educational, not advice.

Mortgages

Czech Mortgage Refix 2026: The Coming Payment Shock

Tens of thousands of Czech mortgages locked below 2 percent in 2020-21 are unwinding this year. Real numbers on what doubling payments looks like.

Investments

Czech Stock Option Tax Win 2026: Up to 26% Savings

A January 2026 amendment cuts the effective tax on qualifying employee stock options from around 49 percent to roughly 23 percent. Worked example.

Mortgages

Investment Mortgage Czechia 2026: New 70% LTV Rules

From April 1 the CNB caps investment mortgages at 70 percent LTV and 7x DTI. Twelve practical questions about who is affected and how.

Tax Tips

Czech Salary Swap Trick Just Died (2026 Update)

For years Czech employees converted part of their salary into tax-free benefits. A 2026 amendment closes the loophole. What changed and what to do.

Pension

The 98,000 CZK Czech Retirement Tax Shelter Expats Miss

Combined with employer contributions, DIP shelters up to 98,000 CZK per year tax-free. Five misconceptions that stop most expats from using it fully.

Living in CZ

EU Pay Transparency Czechia: The 18-Month Delay

Czechia will miss the EU pay transparency deadline by 18 months. Most rules apply from 2028, with reporting for smaller firms delayed to 2031.

Tax Tips

2026 Czech Compliance Checklist: 8 Quiet Changes

Eight specific 2026 rule changes that affect expat employees, freelancers, and homeowners. Concrete checklist of what to verify this quarter.

Mortgages

How to Get a Mortgage in Czech Republic as an Expat (2026)

From 'the bank said no' to holding your keys. Everything I've learned helping expats get mortgages in Czechia since 2017.

Pension

Czech Pension System for Expats: A Complete Guide

You're paying into it every month. Here's what you're actually getting, what you're missing, and how to stop leaving money on the table.

Investments

Investing as an Expat in Czech Republic: 2026 Guide

Tax-free gains after 3 years, the DIP framework, why your savings account is losing money, and the US citizen problem. Real numbers.

Insurance

Life Insurance in Czech Republic: Honest Expat Guide

Do you actually need it? Which type? And is the bank's bundled offer a good deal? Probably not, and here's why.

Tax Tips

The Freelancer's Money Guide to Czech Republic

Tax tricks, the 60/40 mortgage trap, insurance nobody tells you about, and why your pension is 100% your problem. For OSVČ expats.

Mortgages

Czech Credit Registers for Foreigners

BRKI, NRKI, SOLUS: what they are, why an empty history is a problem, and the phone bill that nearly cost a client an apartment.

Pension

The 80,000 CZK Your Czech Employer Might Owe You

Pension matching, meal allowances, MultiSport cards, education budgets. A checklist of Czech employer benefits that most foreigners do not know about.

Pension

DIP vs DPS: Which Czech Pension Is Right for Expats?

A side-by-side breakdown of DIP and DPS, fees, tax benefits, flexibility, and which makes sense for different expat profiles.

Tax Tips

Czech Tax Deductions for Expats: 2026 Guide

Filing deadlines, deductible pension and life insurance contributions, and common mistakes that cost expats money every year.

Pension

What Happens to My Czech Pension If I Leave?

Your complete guide to social security, DPS, DIP, and employer contributions when you leave Czech Republic. EU coordination rules explained.

Insurance

Insurance Expats Actually Need in Czech Republic

Beyond health insurance: the six types of insurance every expat should consider. Property, liability, income protection, life, car, travel.

Mortgages

OSVČ Mortgage in Czech Republic: What Banks Want

How freelancers can qualify for a Czech mortgage. Tax return requirements, the flat-rate expense trap, and which banks actually approve.

Pension

Employer Pension Contributions Most Expats Don't Claim

Most Czech employers offer pension matching. Here's how to claim it, even if HR has not mentioned it.

Mortgages

Czech Mortgage Rates 2026: Bank Comparison for Expats

Current Czech mortgage rates for expats. Bank-by-bank comparison, fixation period options, and how to negotiate a competitive rate. Updated regularly.

Living in CZ

The Real Cost of Living in Prague 2026 for Expats

An expat financial advisor's perspective on what Prague actually costs. Not the generic numbers, the real ones.

No articles in this category yet

Try another category above, or explore our tools:

Salary Calculator Sick Leave Calculator DIP vs DPS