Poland considers VAT split payments from 2018

Voluntary VAT split payments system is being considered by Poland, introducing from 2018. This measure, which will include customers paying VAT into a unique, locked bank account, is intended to reduce VAT fraud.

This drafted scheme comprises of a split payment procedure, whereby the VAT amount of a sale is paid into a special, controlled bank account of the supplier. This will then enable the tax authorities to make direct withdrawals from the bank account in settlement of the supplier’s fixed VAT filing.

Initially this will be voluntary, but any supplier electing to use this method would then be relieved from other anti-VAT fraud procedures. This includes being held jointly and severally accountable for the payment by their customers of the VAT element of sales.

This split payment proposal was originally suggested in 2015.