Taxman catches up with Poles working in the UK

The officials have been keeping an eye on foreign incomes by controlling those who come back to Poland to purchase apartments or land. Prospective buyers are questioned about where the money comes from enabling a degree of control. Next to this, the instances of blackmail are also increasing rapidly, mainly due to neighbor jealousy. The Finance Ministry has submitted requests concerning the income of Poles working in the UK in 2006. "The fact that we were not paying taxes in Poland as well as the UK was shortsighted, but this was due to unfair regulations. Bad laws always encourage people to violate them," said Elzbieta Sobolewska, who has worked in the UK for two years. As of the beginning of this year, Poles working abroad now have to pay taxes in Poland in addition to what they pay in the UK, plus tax evaded in previous years. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, C1, C7) M.M.