Home is where my tax break is

A campaign to lure back Poles living in the UK was abandoned last week after officials discovered the tax break incentives were unconstitutional. The Civic Platform (PO) government had planned to offer preferential tax rates for returning Poles. The Polska daily reported that tax breaks would favor returning Poles over those who remained in Poland and would therefore be unconstitutional.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk came to power after winning the support of two-thirds of Poles in the UK. In his election campaign, he promised the preferential tax rates alongside special loan arrangements and a five-year tax amnesty for Poles who have evaded double taxation and a rebate for those who paid it.

PO deputy Jakub Szulc, who had had worked on incentives for returning Poles, said, "We would have to either introduce the same terms for all Polish citizens or not introduce any at all." In place of the attractive financial incentives, the government now plans to launch an advertising campaign in the UK press.

It is estimated that Poland needs to lure back 200,000 workers if it is to complete infrastructure and development works needed for the Euro 2012 soccer championships.