This page is an English translation provided for convenience. In the event of any discrepancy, the Polish version prevails. Polish original →
A simplified map of taxes and contributions in Poland (2026)
Running a business in Poland means obligations towards several independent systems of public levies at the same time. Income taxes, VAT, property taxes and social security (ZUS) contributions — each of these areas follows its own logic, has its own moment at which the obligation arises and its own collecting authority. Understanding this structure is the starting point for any tax planning.
Four layers of public charges. The most practical way to describe the fiscal system for an entrepreneur is a four-level scheme.
Level 1: Income taxes
At this level you settle the profit (or revenue) from your business.
If you run a limited liability company (sp. z o.o.), a joint-stock company (S.A.) or — since 2021 — a limited partnership (sp.k.), you pay corporate income tax (CIT).
If you operate as an individual or in a civil-law partnership or general partnership of individuals, you pay personal income tax (PIT).
Level 2: VAT
Value added tax is charged on turnover, not on profit. You pay it (or deduct it) on every sale and purchase transaction.
You do not have to be a VAT payer, however — if your annual turnover does not exceed PLN 240,000 (the threshold applicable from 1 January 2026), you can benefit from the small-business exemption.
Level 3: Property taxes
Real estate tax (if you own or lease property), tax on civil-law transactions (e.g. when purchasing shares in a company — 1% rate), tax on means of transport (for lorries over 3.5 t). These levies do not apply to every business, but it is worth knowing when and why they do.
Level 4: Social security (ZUS) and health contributions
They are not taxes in the formal sense, but they are de facto public charges whose level reached record highs in 2026. Full ZUS contributions (excluding health insurance) amount to approx. PLN 1,927 per month. The health contribution is at least PLN 432.54 per month.
| Charge | Rate / amount | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Standard CIT | 19% | Art. 19(1)(1) of the CIT Act |
| CIT — small taxpayer | 9% (threshold: PLN 8,517,000 gross revenue in 2025) | Art. 19(1)(2) of the CIT Act |
| PIT — progressive scale | 12% / 32% (threshold: PLN 120,000) | Art. 27(1) of the PIT Act |
| PIT — flat rate | 19% | Art. 30c of the PIT Act |
| Lump-sum tax on registered revenue | 2%–17% (depending on the PKWiU classification) | Art. 12 of the Lump-Sum Tax Act |
| VAT — small-business exemption | up to PLN 240,000 turnover | Art. 113(1) of the VAT Act |
| Health contribution (minimum) | PLN 432.54 / month | Art. 79 of the Health Care Services Act |
| Full ZUS (excluding health) | PLN 1,926.76 / month | Art. 18 of the Social Insurance System Act |
In summary: the right to choose — within the limits of the law
In Poland you have real freedom in choosing your legal form and form of taxation: a limited liability company or a sole proprietorship; flat-rate tax, lump-sum tax or the progressive scale. Each decision has concrete tax and contribution consequences.
There is no single optimal solution for everyone. The optimal one is the one that takes into account your revenue, costs, family situation and plans for the future.
Why we do this
As a tax advisor I take care of the substantive quality of our free materials. My aim is to educate the market through reliable analyses that allow entrepreneurs to apply the law safely in practice.
Get in touch →Legal basis: Act of 15 February 1992 on Corporate Income Tax (Journal of Laws of 2025, item 278, as amended); Act of 26 July 1991 on Personal Income Tax (Journal of Laws of 2025, item 163, as amended); Act of 11 March 2004 on Value Added Tax (Journal of Laws of 2025, item 775, as amended); Act of 13 October 1998 on the Social Insurance System (Journal of Laws of 2026, item 199).