Poland: The benefits of operating in a special economic zone

International Tax Review is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Garden, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2026

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Poland: The benefits of operating in a special economic zone

intl-updates-small.jpg
dziedzic.jpg

Monika Dziedzic

Until 2027, most of businesses operating in Polish special economic zones (SEZs) may be exempt from profits tax and real estate tax. There are 14 SEZs located all around Poland, but the SEZ status may be also given to nearly any appointed location.

The level of profits tax exemption is a consequence of either qualifying investment costs or new employment.

The exemption equals from 15% to 50% of investment costs (depending on the location of the SEZ – higher level is in more rural areas), or from 15% to 50% of two-year labour costs of newly employed workers. For small and medium-sized enterprises the investment aid may be increased by 20% and 10%, respectively.

The prime condition to do business in the SEZ is to obtain a special SEZ permit, which defines among others allowed scope of business, minimum investment and/or minimum employment.

Qualifying investment cost is the expenditure incurred after obtaining the SEZ permit for mainly fixed assets (including land), development or modernisation of existing fixed assets or purchase of intangible assets related to the transfer of technology through the acquisition of patent rights, licenses, know-how or non-patented technical knowledge. Rent cost and finance leasing may also qualify as expenditure giving the title to the tax exemption.

The exemption applies only to profits from business defined in the SEZ permit.

The loss incurred from business activity in the SEZ cannot be carried forward.

Disposal of qualifying fixed asset within five years from completion will result with in the loss of the right to tax exemptions.

In 2017, there are approximately 1,700 businesses operating in SEZs in Poland including multinationals, as well as local large and small entrepreneurs.

Monika Dziedzic (monika.dziedzic@mddp.pl)

MDDP

Tel: +48 22 322 68 88

Website: www.mddp.pl

more across site & shared bottom lb ros

More from across our site

Case workers are ‘still not great’ but are making fewer enquiries, making the right decision more often and are more open to calls, ITR has heard
There is a shocking discrepancy between professional services firms’ parental leave packages. Those that fail to get with the times risk losing out in the war for talent
Winston Taylor is expected to launch in May 2026 with more than 1,400 lawyers across the US, UK, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East
They are alleging that leaked tax information ‘unfairly tarnished’ their business operations; in other news, Davis Polk and Eversheds Sutherland made key tax hires
Overall revenues for the combined UK and Swiss firm inched up 2% to £3.6 billion despite a ‘challenging market’
In the first of a two-part series, experts from Khaitan & Co dissect a highly anticipated Indian Supreme Court ruling that marks a decisive shift in India’s international tax jurisprudence
The OECD profile signals Brazil is no longer a jurisdiction where TP can be treated as a mechanical compliance exercise, one expert suggests, though another highlights 'significant concerns'
Libya’s often-overlooked stamp duty can halt payments and freeze contracts, making this quiet tax a decisive hurdle for foreign investors to clear, writes Salaheddin El Busefi
Eugena Cerny shares hard-earned lessons from tax automation projects and explains how to navigate internal roadblocks and miscommunications
The Clifford Chance and Hyatt cases collectively confirm a fundamental principle of international tax law: permanent establishment is a concept based on physical and territorial presence
Gift this article