Ministry Wants Cashless Payments to Become Obligatory

Polish Ministry of Development want cashless payments to become prevalent. Even though a vast majority of Poles own one or more payment cards issued by their banks, government experts would like to see them use their cards more. Although in most stores and shops, especially big ones, accepting card payments is common practice, there are still places where paying for goods or services without cash in your wallet is impossible.

Some of those are public institutions. Usually they do not accept cashless payments, so a citizen who wants to settle their fines, tax or fees (such as stamp duties) needs to make sure to bring bills and coins with them. Cashless payments are quick and convenient, says the Ministry, this is what people expect, so they should have an option to use them when dealing with public administration. Officials want to introduce legal regulation that would make acceptance of cashless payments obligatory for all state institutions. Currently, paying with card is accepted in as little as 10% of them.

But that is not all. Politicians have plans to make acceptance of non-cash payments obligatory for all taxpayers who are under obligation to record their transaction on fiscal cash registers. What they mean by non-cash payment are not only card payments, even though most people associate cashless transactions with payments using bank cards. The development of fin tech gave rise to new methods of paying for goods and services, such as mobile payment systems (e.g. Android Pay), quick wire transfers or Blik, a system of payment authentication developed by Polish banks which is growing in popularity across the country.

Cashless transactions are not only convenient for customers. They also make transactions more transparent and easier to trace. That is why numerous governments intend to take steps towards “cashless society”, where use of cash is on the decline.

Ministries of Finance and Development in cooperation with Polish Bank Association, Visa and Mastercard have launched Cashless Trade Assistance Programme through which they will assist businesses in introducing cashless transactions and POS terminals to their outlets.

What This Means for Businesses in Poland

Tax policy changes in Poland have direct implications for both domestic and foreign-owned businesses. Companies operating in Poland must stay informed about regulatory developments to optimize their tax position and maintain compliance. The Polish tax system includes CIT (19% standard, 9% for small taxpayers), VAT (23% standard rate with reduced rates of 8% and 5%), and various sector-specific levies.

For international entrepreneurs and investors, understanding the Polish tax landscape is essential for business planning. Poland offers several attractive incentives including the Polish Investment Zone (up to 15 years of CIT exemption), R&D tax relief (up to 200% deduction), and the IP Box regime (5% effective CIT rate on qualified intellectual property income). Professional tax advisory can help identify the most beneficial structure for your specific situation.

The interplay between Polish domestic tax law and international tax treaties is particularly important for foreign-owned entities. Transfer pricing regulations, withholding tax provisions, and anti-avoidance rules (GAAR) require careful navigation to ensure both compliance and optimization.

If you are doing business in Poland or considering entering the Polish market, Zalewski Consulting can help. Learn more about our tax advisory services in Poland, or contact us for a free consultation.