Poland
For SMEs and Large Enterprises, Poland offers an equal deduction of 200% of labour costs and
100% of the rest of all eligible costs for research and development projects. In the case of R&D
centres, the deduction amounts to 200%. The regime allows for companies to claim retrospectively
up to 5 years.
| Polish SME and Large Enterprises
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Polish R&D centres
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|---|---|---|
| 200% – Tax Deduction of labour costs
100% – Tax Deduction of other eligible costs |
200% Tax Deduction | |
| Benefit Overview
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All companies can claim up to 200% of eligible R&D expenditure as a reduction of their tax base within the year the expenditure is incurred.
Startups can benefit from “cash back”. If the company is loss making in the year it started operating, the incentive can be offered in cash. From 2022 companies can also use two new proinnovation reliefs: relief for prototypes and innovative employees relief. Both mechanisms are complementary |
Companies that have special R&D centre status can claim from 100% (cost of getting legal protection for technical knowledge) and 200% for all additional qualifying costs, as a reduction of their tax base within the year the expenditure is incurred. |
| Eligible Claim Period
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Companies can claim retrospectively up to 5 years. In practice the majority of claims are made by the end of the standard fiscal year following the claim period. It’s not possible to claim future costs in advance. | |
| Historical Background
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The Research and Development Tax Incentives issued by the Polish government were introduced in 2016 and the generosity of the regime has increased year on year.
The first version of law came into legal use on 2 November of 2015, with the second version on 4 November 2016. The third version was accepted on 9 November 2017. The last, current version came into legal use on 1 January 2022. |
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| Application Process
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Companies apply the tax deduction in the tax declaration by filling out an annex (CIT-BR) to the tax relief – deadline end of fiscal year. If the claim is made retrospectively, companies have to ask the tax authority for tax overpayment and prepared corrections of CIT declarations for past years – maximum 5 years back.
The claim processing time in Poland is instantaneous if made at the end of fiscal year. If the claim is made retrospectively the processing time can take up 2 months, or 3 if the case is particularly complicated. |
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| Regulating Body Policies
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Fiscal controls are carried out by tax authorities. The Act is managed by the Ministry of Finance. | |
| Eligible Costs | Eligible costs related to R&D activities can be used to claim from 100 to 200% tax deduction:
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Eligible costs related to R&D activities can be used to claim the 200% tax deduction:
Note: The cost of acquiring legal protection for technical knowledge can be claimed at 100% in regards to the tax deduction. This includes all costs made to acquire patents and other similar legal protection in Poland and EU. |
| Issues to Consider | The Polish R&D regime is easy to apply and claim for, however the claiming company needs to make sure that the documentation is professionally prepared in case of fiscal control. The Tax Authority can retrospectively review claims submitted up to 5 years back. It is responsibility of a claiming company to provide evidence or supporting detail that all legal requirements have been met.
Company is obliged to separate the R&D eligible costs into individual analytical accounts. |
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