Personal income tax changes to help low paid, but to hit average earners

The Finance Ministry is planning to reduce taxes for those earning the lowest wages, for 2003 their income tax brackets will be lowered from 19% to 12%. The ministry also plans to lower the threshold of the 30% tax bracket so that it includes those who earn annual incomes of zl. 32,500 as opposed to zl. 37,024. The 40% tax bracket ceiling will also be lowered by zl. 9,000. Financial analysts have no doubts that the changes, designed to increase tax revenue, will mainly hit those whose income reach the upper limits of the first and second brackets. (Rzeczpospolita, April 27-28, p. B1) K.S.