Poland Tax Rates
Poland personal income tax is levied at progressive tax rates up to 32%.
An optional flat tax rate of 19% is also available.
Tax base Tax Rate
Up to PLN 3,089 0%
PLN 3,089 - PLN 85,528 18% minus PLN 556.02
Over PLN 85,528 PLN 14,839.02 + 32% of surplus over PLN 85,528
Under certain conditions natural persons conducting business activity can tax their income with a flat 19% tax rate or according to provisions regulating lump-sum taxation included in a separate tax act.
Flat tax rates are also envisaged in case of certain incomes in a form of capital gains and lump-sum taxation is applicable to certain incomes obtained by non-residents and other privileged groups of taxpayers.
Polish resident taxpayers are subject to tax on their worldwide income, subject to double tax treaties. Non-residents are taxed only on the income derived from work performed within the territory of Poland. Personal income tax is reduced if, in the financial year, the taxpayer incurred expenditure as specified in the law, within the proper limits.
Payers of the income tax referred to in the PIT law are obliged to calculate and collect tax payments in advance, within the year, and transfer them to the bank account of the relevant tax office by the 20th of the month following the month when the tax advance payment was collected.
Taxpayers are obliged to file an annual tax return by 30 April of the following year. This obligation does not apply to taxpayers for whom the annual tax return is made by the tax collector.
The submission of the tax return has to be accompanied by payment of the difference between the income tax due, as calculated in the tax return, and the sum of any tax paid in advance.
The income tax arising from the tax return is the tax due for a given year, unless the tax office issues a decision establishing a different amount of due tax.
Individuals who receive inheritances or gifts are liable to tax for the portion they receive. Polish citizens and persons who are domiciled in Poland are also liable to this tax if the property received by them is located abroad. Gifts and inheritances of property located in Poland are exempt if neither party is a Polish citizen or domiciled in Poland. The rates are progressive depending on the category of taxpayer and value of property received and will vary from 3% to 20%.
Basis - Residents are taxed on their worldwide income. Nonresidents are taxed only on Polish-source income.
Residence - An individual is resident if his/her centre of personal or economic interest is located in Poland or if he/she stays in Poland for more than 183 days in the tax year.
Tax Filing status - Married couples may opt for joint taxation.
Taxable income - Taxable income includes most cash and non-cash benefits earned from employment, self-employment and rental income. Profits derived from economic activities are subject to rules similar to the rules applying to companies.
Capital gains - Capital gains derived from the sale of real estate within 5 years of its purchase are subject to a 19% tax (subject to certain exemptions). Gains derived from the sale of shares also are subject to the 19% rate.
Tax Deductions and tax allowances - Deductions include donations, expenses incurred by disabled persons and, in certain cases, expenses incurred on technical knowledge. Personal allowances also are available.
Other taxes on individuals:
Capital duty - No
Stamp duty - See under "Other taxes on corporations".
Capital acquisition tax - No
Real property tax - See under "Other taxes on corporations".
Inheritance/estate tax - Inheritance and gift taxes range from 3% to 20%, subject to certain allowances and exemptions.
Net wealth/net worth tax - No
Social security contributions - Employees are liable for social security contributions based on their salary, with the employer charged with collecting and remitting the amounts due (see under "Other taxes on corporations"). Selfemployed individuals are subject to specific rules. Employees also are required to make a 9% health care contribution, which is partly tax deductible.
Poland Tax year - Poland tax year is the calendar year
Tax Filing and payment of tax - Advance payments related to income tax on an employee's salary are remitted to the tax authorities by the employer on a monthly basis. Other income is generally self-assessed. Individuals are required to submit an annual tax return determining the final amount of tax due by 30 April.
Penalties - Penalties apply for noncompliance.
Poland Corporate Income Tax
Poland corporate tax rate for 2010 is 19%.
Polish resident companies are subject to corporate income tax (CIT) on all sources of their worldwide income, while non-residents are subject to corporate income tax only on income derived from the territory of Poland. A company is deemed resident in Poland if it is incorporated or managed in Poland.
In general, the tax year for corporate taxpayers is the calendar year. Taxpayers are obliged to submit their tax declaration, together with the balance sheet, to the fiscal office within three months from the end of their tax year. Taxpayers are obliged to pay tax monthly in advance, based on the current year's income.
Taxpayers can also make monthly advance payments based on specific rules if they meet certain conditions.
CAPITAL GAINS TAX
Capital gains from the disposal of fixed business assets are aggregated with income from other sources and are subject to corporate income tax at the standard corporate income tax - CIT rate (19% in 2010).
BRANCH PROFITS TAX
The tax rate of income derived by a foreign corporation from a branch located in Poland is the same as for Polish entities (19%).
FRINGE BENEFITS TAX (FBT)
Benefits in kind are included in taxable income of employees.
LOCAL TAXES
Real property tax and transport tax are charged as local taxes in Poland. Real property tax is paid by owners of real estate. The tax base depends on the type of asset concerned:
- buildings: the usable area
- structures: value of the structure
- land: the area
The tax rates are established by the Commune Council. The tax on the means of transport is imposed on lorries, tractors and trailers. The tax rates are also established by the Commune Council.
OTHER TAXES
CIVIL LAW ACTIVITY TAX (CLAT)
Some of the civil acts may be subject to civil law activity tax. These are, in general:
- contracts of sale, lease, hire (if not subject to VAT)
- loan agreements
- foundation deeds of a partnership or company
CLAT rates are from 0.1% to 2%.
STAMP DUTY
Transactions subject to stamp duty include the following:
- bills of exchange
- public administration actions (application forms, certificates, permissions)
SOCIAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTIONS
Resident individuals and employees within the territory of Poland are subject to obligatory old age and disability insurance. Rates of social security contributions are as follows:
Employer Employee
Old age pension 9.76% 9,76%
Disability insurance 4.50% 1.50%
Sickness benefits - 2,45%
Accident insurance 0.96% - 1.67% -
Health insurance - 9.00%
Contributions to the old age and disability pensions are paid by the employer and employee. The 9.76% employee contribution is transferred to the Open Pension Fund. Contributions by employees are based on their gross income for income tax purposes. There is a ceiling on income on which contributions for the old age pension and disability insurance are due - PLN 95,790 in 2010. There is no ceiling for health and maternity insurance.
The employer withholds the employees' contributions. Employees' contributions are deductible for income tax purposes and employers' contributions are deductible for corporate income tax purposes.
The contribution for accident insurance is paid by the employer.
The contribution for sickness benefit is paid by the employee.
In addition:
- 9% of gross pay (less contributions for old age and disability insurance) for obligatory health insurance contribution (covering medical expenses) is payable by employees
- 2.45% of gross pay is paid by the employer to the Labour Fund
- 0.10% of gross pay is paid by the employer for the Guaranteed Welfare Benefits Fund.
DETERMINATION OF TAXABLE INCOME
Corporate entities are subject to corporate income tax on the net profit shown on the yearly balance sheet, computed in accordance with the statutory accounting and bookkeeping rules, after adjustment for deductions and additions provided under the tax law. Generally, expenses incurred for the production of income are allowed as deductions.
DEPRECIATION
Current rates range from 1.5% to 30% depending on the type of asset. As a general rule, the straight-line method must be applied although the reducing method is possible under some conditions.
The value of assets may be revalued at the beginning of the tax year with the agreement of the Minister of Finance. Land is not depreciated.
INVENTORY
Stock in trade, or inventory, is valued at its historic cost price or market value. The cost of inventory may be calculated at a standard cost, at a weighted average cost, or on the LIFO or FIFO basis, as long as the method selected is used consistently.
CAPITAL GAINS AND LOSSES
Capital gains and losses are subject to CIT tax at a rate of 19% for 2010.
DIVIDENDS
Dividends received from resident companies are taxed separately at a rate of 19% unless the participation exemption applies. The tax is withheld by the distributing company. Dividends may be distributed only from net profits of the company. Sums allocated for distribution among shareholders cannot be deducted from the taxable base.
INTEREST DEDUCTIONS
Interest is deductible on an accrual basis. For interest from credits and loans from related parties, thin capitalization applies (3:1 equity ratio)
LOSSES
Losses from a given tax year can be offset against the income in the five subsequent tax years but the amount deducted in any one year cannot exceed 50% of the loss incurred in the previous five tax years (including those amounts already utilised against profits).
FOREIGN SOURCED INCOME
Resident companies are subject to tax on their worldwide income, including foreignsourced income and gains. However, double tax agreements may apply to reduce or extinguish the tax liability imposed under domestic tax law.
TAX INCENTIVES
Polish law provides for corporate income tax incentives such as special economic zones (SEZs). In principle, companies operating within special economic zones may enjoy tax holidays which involve tax exemption from corporate income tax within certain time limits. Investments in SEZs may be conducted subject to a permit issued by the authorities. There are now 14 such zones in Poland: Mielecka, Katowicka, Suwalska, Legnicka,Walbrzyska, Lodzka, Kostrzynsko-Slubicka, Slupska, Tarnobrzeska,Warminsko-Mazurska, Starachowicka, Kamiennogorska, Pomorska and Krakowska (Krakow Technology Park).
Undertaking business activity within a SEZ requires a special permit issued by the Minister of Economy or the authorities of the SEZ. Regulations applicable to a particular SEZ may specify the minimum investment value required and/or the number of employees that must be hired to benefit from the tax exemption.
FOREIGN TAX RELIEF
Foreign-sourced income received by a resident company is included in its taxable base unless otherwise provided by the double tax treaty. Taxes paid abroad may be credited against the tax due. However, the amount of tax credit may not exceed the amount of domestic tax that would have been due on the income derived abroad had it been derived in Poland.
CORPORATE GROUPS
In accordance with the Corporate Income Tax Act, a "tax capital group" may be established. Corporate tax is due on the income of the group as a whole. Such a group can be established only by joint stock companies and limited liability companies. The parent company must own at least 95% of the equity of each of the dependent companies. There are also other conditions which must be met to establish the 'tax capital group', such as:
- an average capital of all companies not lower than PLN 1 Million.
- capital group agreement period - minimum 3 year
- registration of the agreement with the tax office
- no outstanding tax liabilies to the state budget
- profitability ratio of the group not lower than 3% for each year
- all of the companies included in the group must be registered in Poland
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Transfer pricing provisions apply to transactions carried out between related parties (broadly where one partly controls the other or they are under common control). The provisions apply to both transactions between a Polish and a non-Polish resident entity and to those between Polish entities.
WITHHOLDING TAXES
Withholding tax is deducted from interest, royalties and dividends. On payments to non-residents, it is deducted at 19% on dividends and 20% on royalties and interest payments, unless reduced by a double tax treaty.
However, under the provisions implementing the EC Parent-Subsidiary Directive, dividend distributions by resident subsidiaries to their non-resident EU parent or EEA (European Economic Area) parent companies or resident parent company are exempt.
In order to benefit from this regulation, the following conditions must be met:
- the resident parent company or EU parent or EEA parent company in receipt of dividends must be subject to corporate income tax in Poland or the EU member country or EEA country on their worldwide income
- the parent company must have owned at least 10% of the capital in the Polish company continuously for a period of at least two years.
From 1 July 2005, the EC Interest and Royalties Directive has been implemented into domestic law. Interest and royalty payments under the Directive are subject to a reduced rate of withholding tax when certain conditions are met. The rate is 5% between 1 July 2009 and 30 June 2013 and 0% thereafter.
In order to benefit from this regulation, the following conditions must be met:
- the payer must be a company which is resident in Poland or is resident in another EU member state and has a taxable permanent establishment in Poland
- the payee must be a company which is tax resident in an EU Member State other than Poland
- the Polish company must have owned at least 25% of the capital of the EU company continuously for a period of at least two years; or
- the EU company must have owned at least 25% of the capital of the Polish company continuously for a period of at least two years.
EXCHANGE CONTROL
With effect from 2003, most foreign exchange transactions are allowed by the Foreign Exchange Act and do not require a special permit from the National Bank of Poland.
Domestic persons doing business in Poland, which normally operates wholly in Zlotys, generally may hold foreign currency accounts for foreign receivables.
Invoices and services purchased abroad may be paid in foreign currencies at the official exchange rate on the day that the payment is made or from their foreign currency accounts.
Poland vat (Value Added tax) Rates
The standard VAT rate in Poland is 22%.
Polish tax law provides for 4 VAT rates. The basic rate is 22%, which is applied to majority of goods and services. Other rates:
7% - applies to specific goods and services, e.g. goods related to health protection, groceries, services of hotels, folk art articles,
3% - applies to supply of some farm produce; this rate is binding temporarily - until 31 December 2010.
The rate of a special significance is a 0% rate. It is mainly applicable to export, intra-Community supply of goods and international transport services. Taxpayers enjoying 0% rate are not deprived of the right to deduct input VAT suffered upon purchases related to the activities subject to this rate.
Polish tax provisions provide also for some exemptions from VAT. Among the activities subject to such exemptions are financial, educational, health and cultural services. The exemption excludes however deduction of input VAT related to the exempt transactions.
Taxable entities are exempt from charging VAT in 2010 if, in the preceding tax year, the turnover of the entity making the supply did not exceed PLN 100,000. Taxpayers with 2009 supplies of between PLN 50,000 and PLN 100,000 may also apply for VAT exemption if they elect to do so by 15 January 2010.
VAT payers who have no registered seat in Poland nor fixed place of business or place of residence are obliged to appoint a fiscal representative. This obligation does not apply to EU residents.
The fiscal representative is jointly liable with the business it represents for all Polish VAT liabilities.
In general, tax obligation arises at the moment of giving, handing over, exchanging a commodity, making a gift or rendering a service. However, there are many exceptions to this rule.
Taxable transactions - VAT is imposed on: (1) the supply of goods and services; (2) the import and export of goods to/from Poland; and (3) the inter-community acquisition and supply of goods.
VAT Registration - The registration threshold of turnover for VAT purposes is PLN 50,000 per year. Nonresidents that make taxable supplies of goods or services in Poland generally must register.
Filing and VAT payment - VAT returns should be submitted and VAT due paid within 25 days following the month in which the VAT obligation arose. Other possibilities regarding filing or payment may exist (e.g. quarterly reconciliation) in certain cases.
32%
19%
22%
Poland
Income Tax Rate
Poland
Corporate Tax Rate
Poland
Sales Tax / VAT Rate
Last Update: Nov 2010
(This page may show previous year's tax rates. Always check last update time)
ALBANIAALGERIAANDORRAANGOLAANGUILLAANTIGUA & BARBUDAARGENTINAARUBAAUSTRALIAAUSTRIAAZERBAIJANBAHAMASBAHRAINBANGLADESHBARBADOSBELARUSBELGIUMBELIZEBENINBERMUDABOSNIA & HERZEGOVINABOTSWANABRAZILBRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDSBRUNEIBULGARIABURKINA FASOBURMABURUNDICAMBODIACAMEROONCANADACAPE VERDECAYMAN ISLANDSCENTRAL AFRICAN REP.CHADCHILECHINACOLOMBIACOMOROSCONGO, DEM. REPUBLICCONGO, REPUBLIC OFCOOK ISLANDSCOSTA RICACOTE D'IVOIRECROATIACUBACURAÇAOCYPRUSCZECH REPUBLICDENMARKDJIBOUTIDOMINICADOMINICAN REPUBLICECUADOREGYPTEL SALVADOREQUATORIAL GUINEAESTONIAFIJIFINLANDFRANCEFRENCH POLYNESIAGAMBIAGEORGIAGERMANYGHANAGIBRALTARGREECEGRENADAGUATEMALAGUERNSEYGUYANAHONDURASHONG KONGHUNGARYICELANDINDIAINDONESIAIRANIRELANDISLE OF MANISRAELITALYIVORY COASTJAMAICAJAPANJERSEYJORDANKAZAKHSTANKENYAKUWAITLATVIALEBANONLIBYALITHUANIALUXEMBOURGMACAUMADAGASCARMADEIRAMALAWIMALAYSIAMALDIVESMALTAMAURITIUSMEXICOMOLDOVAMONACOMONTENEGROMOROCCOMOZAMBIQUEMYANMARNAMIBIANEPALNETHERLANDSNETHERLANDS ANTILLESNEW ZEALANDNICARAGUANIGERIANORWAYOMANPAKISTANPALESTINEPANAMAPAPUA NEW GUINEAPARAGUAYPERUPHILIPPINESPOLANDPORTUGALPUERTO RICOQATARROMANIARUSSIARWANDASAUDI ARABIASENEGALSERBIASIERRA LEONESINGAPORESLOVAKIASLOVENIASOUTH AFRICASOUTH KOREASPAINSRI LANKASWAZILANDSWEDENSWITZERLANDSYRIATAIWANTANZANIATHAILANDTUNISIATURKEYTURKS AND CAICOSUGANDAUKRAINEUNITED ARAB EMIRATESUNITED KINGDOMUNITED STATESURUGUAYUZBEKISTANVANUATUVENEZUELAVIETNAMWEST BANKYEMENZAMBIAZIMBABWE
© 2009-2012 TaxRates.cc
2011 - 2012 Tax Rate Guide and Tax Help Website
