⚖️ How much can an enforcement officer take from my wages?

With conditions

Quick answer

Not everything — the law must leave you a protected amount. The basic protected amount for the debtor is 140% of the subsistence minimum; from 1 July 2026 that is €413.31 a month. Added to it is a protected amount for each dependant, at 25% of the basic figure — from July, €103.33 per person. From the wage the protected amounts are deducted first; the remainder of the net wage is then rounded down to a figure divisible by three and the thirds system is applied. Important for your account: once an enforcement order is served, the bank must leave you €165 — and you can withdraw it in cash at a branch even while the account is frozen.

📋 The rules

Basic protected amount: 140% of the subsistence minimum
From 1 Jul 2026: €413.31 a month
For each dependant: €103.33
The remainder is rounded down and split by the thirds system
The bank must leave €165 in your account

🔓 Exceptions

An officer cannot deduct from the wage and freeze the account the wage arrives in
If the employer has already deducted, the bank should not block the rest a second time
The €165 can be withdrawn in cash at a branch even on a frozen account

⚠️ Penalties & fines

The commonest and most painful misconception is that the officer "takes everything". They do not — the protected amounts are statutory and must be left to you. The second thing people do not know: an officer cannot deduct from the wage and at the same time freeze the account that the same wage lands in. If your employer has already deducted the lawful sum and sent the rest to your account, the bank should not block it a second time — though you must prove the origin of the money. And a third, practical point: even on a frozen account you are entitled to €165, withdrawable in cash at a branch. If the officer breaks these rules, object — do not simply wait.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

How much must be left from my wages?

The basic protected amount of 140% of the subsistence minimum — from 1 July 2026 that is €413.31 a month, plus €103.33 for each dependant.

How is the deduction calculated?

The protected amounts come off the wage first. The remainder of the net wage is rounded down to a figure divisible by three, and the so-called thirds system is applied to it.

Can they freeze my account as well?

Not at the same time as the wage. An officer cannot take money from the wage and from the account that same wage arrives in. If the employer has deducted already, the bank should not block the rest again.

What is left on a frozen account?

Once an enforcement order is served, the bank must leave you €165. You can withdraw that in cash at a branch even though the account is otherwise frozen.

What if the officer breaks the rules?

Object and defend yourself. The protected amounts are statutory and must be left to you. Prove the origin of the money in the account and take it up with the officer, and if needed the court.

🔎 Common searches

What people search to land here:

“protected amount enforcement 2026 slovakia”
“wage deduction enforcement calculation”
“frozen account enforcement 165 euro”
“officer deducting wage and account”
“thirds system enforcement slovakia”
“what must be left in enforcement”