WEH Kanton

WEH Kanton © 2008
Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:06:32 +0800
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Specjalne Strefy Ekonomiczne (SSE)

Special Economic Zones in Poland

A Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is an administratively separate part of Polish territory, in which a more favourable business climate is created. However, the zones are neither exterritorial, nor fenced, nor isolated in any physical way. A SEZ offers preferential tax conditions, as well as special premises on which entrepreneurs may conduct business activities without being subject to the payment of income taxes.

Currently, there are 14 Special Economic Zones in Poland, each of them consisting of several sub-zones. If you chose to invest, for instance, in the Wałbrzych SEZ, the zone's management will present you with several, not necessarily adjacent, locations. In this way, you will be able to choose the most suitable location. The zone's management also issues permits for the conducting of business activities in SEZ, as well as provides assistance to investors by, among others, facilitating their contacts with local authorities or State administrative authorities in matters such as the purchase of land for investment.

In the SEZ you may be eligible for the following privileges:

* an exemption from PIT or CIT
* a plot prepared for investment, available at a competitive price
* free assistance in dealing with the formalities related to investment
* exemption from real estate tax
* grants for employee training programmes
* grants for the creation of new jobs
* other privileges: see incentives for investors above

OBLIGATIONS OF INVESTORS OPERATING IN THE SEZ

Where regional assistance is provided for investment outlays, the investor is required to:

* carry out business activities, as specified in the permit, for a period of five years,
* remain the owner of property elements connected with investment outlays for a period of five years from their entry in a Register of fixed and intangible assets,
* disclose information on the received assistance to the Office for Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK).

Where regional assistance is granted for the creation of new jobs, the investor is required to:

* carry out business activities, as specified in the permit, for a period of five years,
* maintain the created jobs for a period of five years (this is a minimum time-limit; the conditions of a permit may set stricter conditions in this respect),
* disclose information on the received assistance to the Office for Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK).

Competent authority: Permits for the conducting of business activities in the Special Economic Zone can be obtained from, and all formalities arranged with, the Management Boards of the SEZs.