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Tax Guidelines in English for Small Business Owners in Poland?



BLSThreads: 79
Posts: 171
Joined: Feb 14, 08 		  Nov 4, 09, 18:27 /  #
I have a one-man business teaching English in Poland. I would like to find a list in English of what items are deductible and what aren't...maybe some simple instructions for figuring out one's monthly tax liability, where to include each item in the monthly register, etc. Does anyone know if such documentation exists?

I have visited several accountants, but their English left much to desire - I typically left more confused than when I showed up. Thanks!
delphiandomineThreads: 42
Posts: 9,954
Joined: Nov 25, 08 [Suspended]		 Edited by: delphiandomine   Nov 4, 09, 20:55 /  #
Take my advice and get an accountant. The rules aren't clear at all - there are so many regulations and the tax code is changing rapidly - combine this with a very unforgiving Urząd Skarbowy and you have a minefield. You can actually assign everything to an accountant - so that if there's any issues with your taxes, they chase the accountant to solve it rather than you. This could be invaluable if they query something - you'll have to deal with dragons that think English is something that doesn't exist in Poland. I've heard stories of people hauled in over a matter of a few grosz - if you consider that you don't speak Polish, can you imagine the nightmare?

I haven't came across any such documentation - I'm 90% convinced that it doesn't actually exist. There are some materials online about it, but nothing comprehensive that can be relied on.

In all honesty - a good accountant should cost no more than 180zl-ish a month. I'm paying 122zl a month in Poznan - and while she doesn't speak English, she doesn't really need to. Her advice to me is simply to give her everything at the end of the month and she'll deal with it from there :)
BLSThreads: 79
Posts: 171
Joined: Feb 14, 08 		  Nov 4, 09, 22:36 /  #
You're absolutely right - I'll bite the bullet and hire an accountant. I never thought about the language aspect if/when it comes to an audit - thanks for the eye-opener!
SenachThreads: 2
Posts: 100
Joined: Nov 3, 09 		  Nov 4, 09, 23:50 /  #
BLS

You are a one man business,why are you rushing to waste money and pay tax,have you not heard of the 3 year rule?
BLSThreads: 79
Posts: 171
Joined: Feb 14, 08 		  Nov 5, 09, 10:29 /  #
I don't consider paying my fair share of taxes as wasteful - in fact, I am proud to pay taxes to the country that allows me to stay and earn a living. I choose to view the bigger picture and not solely concentrate on what is best for me...
delphiandomineThreads: 42
Posts: 9,954
Joined: Nov 25, 08 [Suspended]		   Nov 5, 09, 15:16 /  #
BLS:
You're absolutely right - I'll bite the bullet and hire an accountant. I never thought about the language aspect if/when it comes to an audit - thanks for the eye-opener!

It's worth doing - what I suggest is to get a friendly Polish friend to find a good local accountant who has never thought of advertising to foreigners - they'll likely be much more reliable and honest. You can often find decent busineses like this in random places - and they'll do exactly the same job as the expensive one in the centre of cities :)

I've heard nothing but horror stories about many English-speaking accountants, which seems to be a good reason to avoid.
SenachThreads: 2
Posts: 100
Joined: Nov 3, 09 		  Nov 5, 09, 15:31 /  #
BLS

You are quite right of course,it is good that you pay taxes,the country allows you to use your labour and takes a cut of your labour,and employing an accountant to make sure that you do not fall foul of all the regulations,to pay up to 50% of your hard earned income to the state what a bargain.
delphiandomineThreads: 42
Posts: 9,954
Joined: Nov 25, 08 [Suspended]		   Nov 5, 09, 22:04 /  #
Clearly Senach (Hi, RevokeNice!) here is somewhat completely unaware of how the Polish taxman works. The guiding principle with Polish taxes is that you are guilty until you can prove yourself innocent. For that reason, you'd be a lunatic not to consider an accountant in Poland.
SenachThreads: 2
Posts: 100
Joined: Nov 3, 09 		  Nov 6, 09, 02:49 /  #
delphiandomine

Firstly i am not Revokenice,that will come clear as i post,but i will have a look at his post's to see why you think that.
Their is no tax system in Europe that i cannot run circle's round,and i do not need to know their tax laws,i know their nature,and from my base in the Internet,i do as i please.
I know this sound's like bluff and bluster,and i have no way of proving it to you,but i will tell you one major secret,if you fear them you have lost,and taxmen are lazy and go after easy targets,do what you need to do, make your money and move on quickly,if you stay, you pay and avoid seizable asset's.
delphiandomineThreads: 42
Posts: 9,954
Joined: Nov 25, 08 [Suspended]		 Edited by: delphiandomine   Nov 6, 09, 03:08 /  #
Senach:
Their is no tax system in Europe that i cannot run circle's round,and i do not need to know their tax laws,i know their nature,and from my base in the Internet,i do as i please.

So how do you propose to 'run away' from a Polish tax system that has no scruples about freezing people's bank accounts and will happily do so over minor discrepancies? Poland has been very quick to enter people's details onto SIS4All - someone with frozen bank accounts who is wanted in Poland over tax issues will find themselves blacklisted from Schengen as a result. It's also quite possible for Poland to issue a European Arrest Warrant over this - and these are enforcable throughout the entire EU.

I'm sure it's possible to defraud the Polish tax man - but I'm equally sure that it's diabolically stupid to attempt to do so when they'll have plenty of information about you on file that can be used to issue a European Arrest Warrant and a nice 'hit' in SIS4All.
SenachThreads: 2
Posts: 100
Joined: Nov 3, 09 		  Nov 6, 09, 03:29 /  #
delphiandomine

I am sure all the above is right,and they have amazing power's,the state's of Europe believe that it own's it's citizen's and they have the right to fleece them,i know that you believe that they have this right when you mention the word defraud,these people have never earnt a real penny in their live's.
So let me introduce you to the five flag theory,but do not try this at home,unless you have massive yaye.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_traveler#Five_Flag_Theory

I will dig out a report where a Brussels minister threw a hissy fit,as they knew that several million European's were living this life and getting away with it.
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