30 percent CIT for banks. New tax regulations come into force

On January 1, regulations came into force that result in an increase in the income tax rate paid by banks. In 2026 it will amount to 30%. Entities starting their businesses, credit unions, small entities and banks in recovery processes will pay less.

Changes from 2026

This concerns an amendment to the Corporate Income Tax Act and the Act on Tax on Certain Financial Institutions, which increases the corporate income tax rate paid by banks from 19%. to 23 percent, while in 2026 this rate will be 30 percent and in 2027 – 26 percent. According to the regulations, entities starting their business whose revenues do not exceed EUR 2 million will pay a rate of 13%. (currently this rate is 9%). However, in 2026 this rate will be 20 percent, and in 2027 – 16 percent.

The CIT rate for Cooperative Savings and Credit Unions and cooperative banks will ultimately amount to 21 percent, and in the transitional period: 27 and 23 percent. Small entities and banks undergoing the recovery process will be exempt from higher taxation.

Bank tax reduction

The act – apart from an increase in CIT rates for banks – assumes a tax reduction on certain financial institutions, i.e. the so-called bank tax. Tax amounting to 0.0366 percent. the tax base will drop to 0.0329%, and from 2028 it will be 0.0293%. tax bases. The regulations on this matter will enter into force on January 1, 2027.

During work on the act, the Polish Bank Association assessed that: raising the tax rate for just one industry is unconstitutional and unfairand may affect both lending and the stability of the sector. The Ministry of Finance justified the change in regulations with budgetary needs related to defense and health care.

Who pays the highest CIT?

According to data from the Ministry of Finance, banks are among the largest payers of corporate income tax. According to data published by the ministry, Bank Pekao paid over PLN 1.9 billion in corporate income tax for 2024Santander Bank Polska paid over PLN 1.5 billion, ING Bank Śląski – over PLN 828.4 million, mBank – over PLN 736.7 million, Alior Bank – over PLN 557 million, Millenium – over PLN 339.3 million, and Deutsche Bank Polska – approx. PLN 288 million. In the case of PKO Bank Polski, the Ministry of Finance only published information about the tax paid by the capital group, the bank itself – as shown in its financial report for last year – paid PLN 2.5 billion CIT.

In 2026, the budget will receive PLN 6.6 billion from the CIT increase for banks, and PLN 14.8 billion within 10 years.

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