New Year – new and higher taxes. What will we pay more for?

Sugar tax will lead to an average 40% increase in the prices of sweetened beverages. For example, large bottles of Coca-Cola (1.75 l) and Pepsi are already around PLN 2 more expensive.

As the businessinsider.com.pl website reports:

The so-called sugar tax came into force on January 1, 2021. As the website reminds us, the fixed fee is 50 groszy per litre of a beverage containing added sugar or sweetener, plus 10 groszy per litre of a beverage containing an active substance (caffeine or taurine). The variable fee is 5 groszy for each gram of sugar above 5 grams per 100 ml, calculated per litre of beverage. The sugar tax may amount to a maximum of PLN 1.20 per litre of beverage. Beverages in which the share of fruit, vegetable or fruit-and-vegetable juice is at least 20%, as well as isotonic beverages, are exempt from the fixed fee.

The retail tax (also called the retail sales tax) will burden large retail chains, which will certainly respond by raising product prices in their stores. As Dziennik Gazeta Prawna reports:

It will burden large-format stores. It is to be collected on retail sales revenue according to two progressive rates. If a retail chain’s revenue does not exceed PLN 17 million per month, a tax-free allowance will apply, meaning that the tax will not have to be paid (Act of July 6, 2016; consolidated text, Journal of Laws of 2020, item 1293).

The government has also introduced a tax on so-called “monkeys.” It applies to alcoholic beverages sold in bottles with a capacity of up to 300 ml. The new fee will result in an average price increase of several zlotys per bottle. According to estimates, around 3 million “monkeys” were sold in Poland every day. Will higher prices reduce sales? In an attempt to circumvent the new tax, some companies want to sell “monkeys” with a capacity of 350 ml.

In addition to the above taxes, the so-called capacity fee, CIT on limited partnerships and some general partnerships will also be introduced. Local taxes (set by local governments) on real estate and means of transport will also be increased. Waste collection fees are also rising.

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