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Digital tax in Poland. „I will present the concept to the Prime Minister.”
„I have spoken with individuals who have been engaged in this for several months. I will present the concept of the digital tax to the Prime Minister. It is set to be implemented at the end of July and the beginning of August,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski shared with TVN24.
When asked during „Jeden na jeden” on TVN24 about the progress on the digital tax in Poland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski indicated that the issue remains active within his ministry.
„The left has a definitive position regarding the digital tax. They advocate for it because it promotes fairness for both Polish and international firms, as it is unacceptable for two of Poland’s largest corporations to pay a lower tax rate than one key player in the Polish digital sector,” the Deputy Prime Minister stated.
„We cannot allow other politicians and diplomats from other nations to dictate what we will draft or what regulations we will develop,” he further added. Gawkowski highlighted that comparable measures have been implemented in Austria and France. „Why can’t we achieve the same in Poland?” he remarked.
Marcin Obara/PAP„I will present the concept to the Prime Minister”
When questioned if the digital tax had been discussed with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Digital Affairs responded that „it has been discussed with individuals who have been engaged in this for several months.” „I will also present the concept to the Prime Minister, slated for the end of July and the start of August,” he clarified.
In response to the statement that „the Minister of Finance claimed responsibility for tax policy in the government and currently had no plans for a digital tax,” Deputy Prime Minister Gawkowski reminded that he has been transparent about his efforts. „We are actively working on this in the Ministry of Digital Affairs, and that is no secret, as I have been discussing it for several months,” he affirmed.
On Wednesday, Gawkowski was asked about the European Commission’s decision to halt plans for a digital tax.
„I view it this way. A few months ago, I was advised by the Ministry of Digital Affairs not to pursue a digital tax since the European Union was handling it. At that time, I expressed skepticism about the EU’s capacity to implement it as a unified package. Thus, Poland should advance its efforts. Today, I am pleased because our ongoing work will be showcased as a product of the Polish government,” he remarked.
TVN24Digital tax in Poland?
Last week, the Politico website reported that the European Commission had decided to withdraw its proposals for taxing the largest digital firms. According to the website, the digital tax that the European Commission was supposed to be developing has been removed from the list of proposed taxes for the upcoming seven-year EU financial framework.
In March of this year, Gawkowski announced plans for a digital tax in Poland. Tom Rose, the nominee for US ambassador to Poland under Donald Trump, commented on this announcement. In a post on the X platform, he warned that Trump would retaliate against the implementation of the digital tax.
Finance Minister Andrzej Domański stated in March that his ministry was not working on introducing a digital tax. „In Poland, tax policy is shaped by the Ministry of Finance. We are not currently pursuing a digital tax. However, as a nation, we determine which taxes we implement, and no statements from ambassadors will sway our decisions,” Domański asserted at that time.
In mid-2019, France became the first country in Europe to implement a 3% digital tax on large tech firms, which was designed to exempt nearly all French technology companies. The requirement is a global revenue of €750 million, with €25 million of that coming from France. In 2019, US President Donald Trump described the French tax as „stupid” regarding President Emmanuel Macron and announced that he would respond by, among other measures, imposing higher tariffs on French wine.
