22:25 30 June 2026
Lower Fuel Price program ends on July 1, new tax begins
Poland’s “Lower Fuel Prices” program ends on July 1, bringing back 23% VAT and full excise duty on fuel. The three-month relief program cost the state budget around PLN 4.8 bln, or roughly PLN 130 per person. In practice, all taxpayers subsidized cheaper fuel, including people without cars.
The government now wants to recover about PLN 4 bln through a temporary windfall tax on extraordinary profits of fuel companies. The nominal rate will be 60%, but experts warn that the real burden could exceed 70%, or even approach 79% in extreme cases, because the tax may not be deductible under CIT and could interact with global minimum tax rules.
Analysts also warn that fuel companies may pass part of the new cost on to consumers, raising petrol prices by several grosze per liter. The tax may also trigger legal disputes because it would apply retroactively from March 2026, although it is expected to enter into force only in August.
(wnp.pl)
