The tax increase was included in a document published after the meeting of the Council of Ministers entitled: “Information on actions taken by Poland to implement the Council recommendation under the excessive deficit procedure”.
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The resort reminded that Poland has been subject to the excessive deficit procedure since July 2024 due to the high level of fiscal imbalance. In accordance with the recommendations of the EU Council, the country is obliged to comply with the limits on the growth rate of net expenditure specified in the medium-term budgetary and structural plan for 2025–2028.
Data from the Ministry of Finance show that the forecast ratio of general government debt to GDP will be 59.8%. in 2025 and 65.4 percent in 2026, exceeding the EU threshold of 60%.. In 2029, the rate is expected to increase to 75.3%.
The Ministry announced that as part of the measures aimed at reducing the deficit, the government has prepared a package of changes with a total effect of at least PLN 18.7 billion, including both the solutions included in the draft budget for 2026 and new fiscal initiatives.
Among the latter – as indicated – There has just been an increase in VAT on non-alcoholic drinks imitating alcohol and on energy drinks containing fruit juice.. This solution is currently in the process of being entered into the list of works of the Council of Ministers.
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The resort emphasized that these activities are profitable and will constitute a positive risk factor for the implementation of the budget forecast. Other planned moves include: establishing the Interministerial Team for counteracting the gray zone and extending the powers of the National Labor Inspectorate.
The ministry explained that the increase in the deficit in 2024–2025 is the result of increased defense spending and a lower than forecasted inflation rate, which resulted in a slower growth of budget revenues.
The Ministry of Finance assessed that in the coming years, reducing the deficit and debt of the public finance sector will require consistent application of national and EU fiscal rules, including the stabilizing expenditure rule.
