Sejm could eliminate educational material VAT to prevent financial burdens

A bill on value added tax (VAT) may be submitted to the Speaker of the Sejm stipulating a VAT exemption for pedagogical aids imported for the purpose of education or research. As the result of an amendment which went into effect at the beginning of this year imposing VAT on such items, many educational establishments have been burdened by additional expenses. Such imported materials were exempt from excise duty and until the end of 2000 were also exempt from VAT. Tadeusz Kozluk, rector of the Private Higher Business and Administration School, has submitted a protest letter to Speaker Maciej Plazynski, stating, └I am sure that, regarding public interest, you will take appropriate steps in order to get rid of these absurd laws and to create in our country advantageous conditions for operation and development of institutions of higher education.■ (Prawo i Gospodarka, p. 8) M.S.-.C.