The Government Finishes Work on Constitution for Business

Polish government has put final touches on the much-hyped Constitution for Business – a package of five drafts of legal acts that are to make doing business in Poland easier, especially for micro and small enterprises. The legislators from the Ministry of Finance have been working on the package for an entire year. Now, Constitution for Business got approved by the cabinet of Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło. This means the new bills may be presented to and discussed in the parliament. It is likely that the first parliamentary voting on the bills will take place in December. The new law is expected to come into force in January 2018.

Introduction of the new regulations is to mark a new beginning in relations between company owners and tax authorities. The lawmakers want legal provisions to be interpreted in favour of the entrepreneur. The new philosophy behind Constitution for Business was presented by Deputy Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki: “An entrepreneur is not a thief, taxation is not extortion payment”. What is not forbidden, will be allowed. Exchanging information and getting in contact with fiscal authorities is to become easier and quicker as it will happen over the phone or online instead of traditional registered letters.

New entrepreneurs will be exempted from paying social insurance contributions for the first six months of their operations, and for another 24 months they will be allowed to use lowered rates. This is a big relief for those just launching their businesses. The government also will introduce a new form of business activity: “unregistered activity”. It will apply to those who sell goods and services only occasionally and whose monthly incomes do not exceed half of the minimum salary.

Minister Morawiecki has great confidence in the effects the new law will have on business in Poland. He says that Polish entrepreneurs have been waiting for the new solutions for the last 25 years.

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.