Poland wants to introduce a 3% digital tax despite US criticism

The Polish Ministry of Finance will deal with the application for a 3% digital tax proposed by the Ministry of Digital Affairs. This was stated by Finance Minister Andrzej Domański on May 13, while Warsaw is pressing ahead with its plans despite criticism from the US government. The Polish government expects to pass the draft law by the end of September. The measure would introduce a compensatory tax on selected digital services provided by the largest global companies operating in Poland. When asked about possible objections from Washington, Domański explained that Poland would determine its tax policy independently. "Poland decides for itself which taxes apply in Poland. Companies in the field of new technologies have to pay taxes in Poland - just like everyone else," Domański told journalists, according to PAP. The current plan builds on an earlier proposal from 2025, when the Ministry of Digital Affairs first outlined a regulatory framework aimed at large multinational technology companies - mostly from the US. The levy would apply to activities such as personalized advertising, online marketplaces and the sale of user data. However, digital content streaming, telecommunications services and financial services would be exempt. Several European countries have already introduced digital taxes, including the United Kingdom with a rate of two percent and France, Italy and Spain with three percent each. Such measures have been met with criticism in Washington for years, as they often affect large US technology companies - including Alphabet, operator of Google, Meta with the platforms Facebook and Instagram, as well as Apple and Amazon. The issue has long been a source of tension in transatlantic trade relations. When Poland first made its plans public in 2025, the US ambassador to Poland at the time, Tom Rose, described the proposal as "self-destructive" and warned of potential strains on bilateral relations. The initiative also comes at a time when Poland is separately considering restrictions on access to social media for children under the age of 15. This could further increase regulatory pressure on globally active technology companies in the country. The post Poland wants to introduce a 3% digital tax despite US criticism appeared first on ostwirtschaft.de.