UPDATE: Poland's President against raising taxes or levies, supports cutting unnecessary spending
Poland's President Karol Nawrocki is opposed to raising taxes or levies, but supports the government's efforts to reduce unnecessary spending and tighten up the tax system, head of presidential office Zbigniew Bogucki told a briefing on Monday.
"The President's position - and I spoke with him about it today - is clear. He does not agree to raising any taxes or levies," Bogucki said.
"The president presents a very clear proposal in the PIT bill for families with two or more children – a tax shield, i.e. more control, as was done during the Law and Justice government, tightening up the VAT and CIT systems. (...) The president will do everything he can to force this government to look for money not in the pockets of Poles and drain their wallets, but in pro-development activities," he added
Over the weekend, Bogucki announced that President Nawrocki would not agree to the proposed increase in excise duty on alcohol and the so-called sugar tax. Bogucki has not yet commented on another proposal by the Ministry of Finance - an increase in tax for banks.
On Monday, the President announced that he had vetoed the bill on aid to Ukrainian citizens. The amendment provided for the extension of temporary protection granted to Ukrainian citizens fleeing the war until March 4, 2026.
It also clarified the conditions for receiving the 800+ benefit so that it would also be paid to children who completed secondary school before the age of 18 and fulfil their educational obligations by attending university or vocational training courses.
Bogucki assessed that the veto of the bill would also reduce the budgetary burden, e.g. by paying 800+ to a smaller number of Ukrainian citizens. He emphasised that President Nawrocki is in favour of reducing unnecessary government spending.
"This also means less of a burden on healthcare, which is in a terrible state (...) By submitting his own bill and vetoing the bill in the form proposed by the government, the president is saying: government, you also have the opportunity to reduce unjustified spending," head of presidential office told the briefing.
At the beginning of August, President Karol Nawrocki submitted a bill to the lower house of Poland's parliament, Sejm, proposing a zero PIT rate for families with two or more children, as well as an increase in the second tax threshold to PLN 140,000 (EUR 32,844). The bill also includes elements to tighten up VAT and CIT revenues.
The Ministry of Finance proposes to increase excise duty rates on alcoholic beverages by 15 percent from January 1, 2026, compared to 2025 rates, and from 2027, excise duty rates are to increase by 10 percent. The ministry also wants to increase the sugar tax rate.
On Thursday, the Ministry of Finance proposed an update of excise duty rates on all alcoholic beverages.
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