Government To Focus On CyberSecurity

The Prime Minister of Poland, Beata Szydło, made a speech during the CyberSecurity conference that took place in Kraków. The event focuses on the issues of cybersecurity and cyberspace threats. Prime Minister took the opportunity to announce the creation of a cyberspace department at her chancellery. The new body will be chaired by Paweł Szefernaker.

The Polish head of state strongly stressed that cybersecurity is one of the biggest challenges our society and governments face. The Department of Cyberspace will provide expert knowledge and research on all issues connected with the modern digital world and will allow leaders to be up to date with the latest events and trends regarding cyberspace. Beata Szydło noted that similar departments exist in numerous other European countries.

However, the government is doing much more when it comes to the matters of cybersecurity. Legislators from the Ministry of Digital Affairs are currently working on a bill for a national cybersecurity system. The Ministry of Defence is working on the creation of a cyber army that will be conducting military operations in cyberspace. The cyber army is to consist of at least a thousand specially trained soldiers. The Polish government will designate 2 billion PLN to create the army.

Polish Minister of Defence, Antoni Macierewicz, stated that cyberspace is an arena of military actions as much as land, air, water, or space are. Bartłomiej Grabski has been appointed a Ministry plenipotentiary for cyberspace security. The danger for the state exists outside of its borders as well. Today, you do not need tanks and missiles to attack another country. All you need is a computer and an adequately trained person – said the Prime Minister.

As the recent “Petia” virus hacker attack which paralyzed many businesses and institutions in Ukraine and other European countries or the involvement of Russia in the last presidential election in the United States shows, cyberthreats are a very real thing.

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.