Polish update: Binding tax rulings enter into force

With effect from January 1 2005 the amendments to the Polish Tax Code became effective, including that the tax authority is obliged, upon written request of the taxpayer, to issue binding advance tax rulings. A taxpayer that receives a ruling cannot be charged with any outstanding tax liability, provided that he conducted his transactions consistently with the tax authorities' interpretation of the tax law included in the ruling. The previously existing system of rulings had not offered such opportunity; the "old" rulings protected taxpayers against penalties but not against payment of the tax liability as such.