<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1159208090890608&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">

Changes in the Polish VAT law - 4 important updates for traders registered for VAT in Poland

dianageilhufe.jpg ‹ Back to the articles

dianageilhufe.jpg

A couple of important changes of the Polish VAT Act came into effect 1st January 2017. The main purpose of the changes is to ensure greater stability of the VAT system by reducing tax frauds and tax abuses. The 4 main changes are described below.

1. Extension of reverse charge mechanism to construction services

As of 1st January 2017 the reverse charge mechanism covers certain types of construction services provided to VAT registered taxpayers in Poland. It means in practice that both Polish and foreign subcontractors providing construction services in Poland shall issue invoices without Polish VAT. This VAT (both output and input) shall be calculated and reported by purchasers. Please note that the purchaser will not have the right to deduct the VAT that is incorrectly charged by the supplier. I recommend the foreign companies to analyze their activities carried out in Poland (e.g. by review of the contracts) in order to verify whether the new rules affect their business.

2. Electronic submission of VAT returns

The obligation to submit VAT returns electronically will be introduced as of 1st January 2018. However, for certain entities this obligation exists already as of 1st January 2017. This applies to:

  • taxpayers who are obligated to register for intra-Community transactions;
  • purchasers or suppliers of goods and services which are subject to the reverse charge mechanism;
  • taxpayers obligated to submit VAT returns electronically according to the Polish income tax provisions.

This implies that the foreign companies should appoint a Polish proxy to submit e-returns on their behalf. I would recommend the Norwegian companies to use the Polish VAT representative for submission of e-returns. Alternatively, the foreign tax payers should gain access to the IT system of the Polish Ministry of Finance. Please note however that it is not so easy for foreigners since a Polish national identity number is needed.

3. Automatic de-registration from Polish VAT register

According to the current Polish VAT law, the tax authorities may de-register an entity as a VAT taxpayer if the entity does not exist or it cannot be contacted. As of 2017, the tax authorities can de-register an entity without notification also in following cases:

  • submission of untruthful information in its VAT registration form;
  • the taxpayer or its agent does not respond to summons;
  • suspension of business activity for at least six consecutive months;
  • failure to submit VAT returns for a period of six months or two quarters;
  • submission of nil-VAT returns for a period of six months or two quarters;
  • issuance of invoices confirming transactions that did not take place.

Please note that automatic de-registration of an entity registered for intra-Community transactions may also take place if a taxpayer fails to submit EC Sales List (returns informing about performed intra-Community transactions) for a period of 3 months.

Due to these strict requirements, I recommend the foreign companies to have an active and constructive dialogue with its Polish VAT representative.

4. Additional VAT liability (penalties)

An additional tax liability in the amount of 30% will be introduced in the case of:

  • reporting too low amount of the output VAT;
  • reporting too high amount of the input VAT;
  • failure to submit VAT returns and payment of the VAT liability.

The amount of the penalty may be reduced to 20% provided that the taxpayer submits a correction of the VAT return or the missing VAT return in appropriate terms. This special penalty will not be applied if the taxpayer submits a correction of the missing VAT return before a tax audit is initiated.

Moreover, an additional sanction (amounting to 100% of the input VAT deducted) may apply to the taxpayers that deducted VAT using false invoices, invoices that were issued by a non-existing entity or invoices that confirm fraudulent or criminal activities. Due to implementation of the new sanctions, it is crucial to take particular care on invoicing procedures in the company to mitigate the risk of becoming involved in potential fraud.

Diana Geilhufe

Diana Geilhufe

Jeg heter Diana Geilhufe og jobber som Direktør i Advokatfirmaet PwC. Jeg har jobbet med internasjonale indirekte mva-spørsmål i mer enn 10 år. Mitt arbeidsfelt er merverdiavgift, med særlig fokus på internasjonale forhold og grenseoverskridende transaksjoner. Til daglig jobber jeg med å bistå norske og multinasjonale selskaper fra en rekke bransjer (shipping, akvakultur, e-handel, bilindustri, industriell produksjon) med et bredt spekter av merverdiavgift rådgivningstjenester, bl.a. vurdering av mva-behandling av grenseoverskridende transaksjoner, spørsmål knyttet til mva-registrering og rapporteringsforpliktelser i Norge eller utenfor Norge. Ta gjerne kontakt med meg dersom det er noe du lurer på.

My name is Diana Geilhufe and I work as Director at PwC Tax and Legal Services. My area of expertise covers international VAT advisory service. I assist clients with assessment of VAT obligations in Norway as well outside Norway. I specialize in analysis of cross-border transactions, including restructuring of supply chains from the VAT perspective. I have been with PwC since 2010, first 5 years at PwC in Poland before joining PwC Norway in 2015.

I would like to blog about my international experiences in this area. Please feel free to contact me, if you have any questions, comments or input.

Leave a comment

Related articles

Read the article

Tax and VAT - Norwegian National Budget 2024

The 2024 budget was presented at 09.00 today. Here follows an overview of the most important proposals for changes in the tax and VAT area. ...

Read the article
Read the article

What do you need to know about SAF-T accounting if you run a business in Norway from abroad, with or without a VAT representative?

If you are a foreign business operator who conducts taxable and/or VAT liable business in Norway, you have a bookkeeping obligation ...

Read the article
Read the article

VAT adjustment obligations - new specification requirement in the VAT return

In the VAT return for the 6th term 2022 (November-December), with submission deadline 10 February 2023, the annual adjustment amount shall ...

Read the article