Company registration · Poland
Company registration in Poland a large domestic market and a 9% rate for small companies
- Support
- from €1 200
- Registration time
- 9% or 19%
- Corporate tax depending on status
- 9% or 19%
The biggest economy in central Europe with a reduced corporate rate for small companies and a strong base for manufacturing, logistics and services across the region.
Registration
from €1 200
Turnkey work by BRIDGES. Government fees and duties appear as a separate line in the estimate at actual rates.
See packages9% or 19%
Corporate tax depending on status
1-2 weeks
Incorporation with the registry
EU
Full access to the single market
Who it suitsPoland
Who Poland suits
Working on the company structure- 01Manufacturing and assembly for the European market
- 02Logistics, warehousing and distribution
- 03IT services and outsourcing with a local team
- 04Trading companies selling into central Europe
- 05Businesses that want an EU company with a real domestic market
Does not suit
- A fully remote company with no local accountant
- You need a fast set-up in a few days
- You are counting on anonymity: the registry is public
- There is no willingness to work with Polish-language filings
Company forms4
Which company to open
The limited liability company is the working form for nearly every scenario.
- 01Spolka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia · sp. z o.o. — limited liability company
Trading, services, manufacturing, IT.
Simple management, low entry cost, online incorporation available.
Sole shareholders face social contribution obligations.
- 02Prosta spolka akcyjna · PSA — simple joint stock company
Technology companies raising capital.
Flexible share classes and contributions in the form of work.
A newer form, less familiar to some counterparties.
- 03Spolka akcyjna · SA — joint stock company
Large businesses and listed structures.
High standing and access to public capital.
Higher capital requirement and heavier governance.
- 04Branch · branch of a foreign company
An existing group entering the Polish market.
No new legal entity is required.
The parent company carries the liability.
Packagesfrom €1 200
Three ways to launch
The scope is built from real scenarios. The amount depends on VAT and on the level of accounting support.
01 · 2-3 weeks
Company
from $1 800
An EU entity for contracts and invoicing
- Name check and preparation of the articles
- Filing with the national court register
- Registered address for the first year
- Full set of corporate documents
- Tax registration and a Polish accountant
02 · 4-8 weeks
Company, VAT and account
from $3 400
An operating business with EU settlements
- Everything in the Company package
- VAT and EU VAT registration
- Bank profile and submission to suitable banks
- Monthly accounting set-up
- Support with correspondence with the tax office
03 · from 5 weeks
Turnkey with staff
by project
A company with employees and real operations
- Everything in the Company, VAT and account package
- Employer registration and payroll administration
- Office or warehouse search and lease support
- Work permit support for foreign employees
- Monthly bookkeeping, annual accounts and returns
Court fees, social contributions and permit costs appear as separate lines in the quote.
TaxesPoland
Taxes in Poland
A reduced rate for small companies alongside the standard corporate rate.
Taxes in Poland
Poland
- 9% or 19%
- Corporate tax depending on status
- from $1 800
- BRIDGES fee
- 1-2 weeks
- Incorporation with the registry
- EU
- Full access to the single market
- Reduced corporate rate
- 9% for small taxpayers and companies in their first year, within the statutory revenue limit.
- Standard corporate rate
- 19% above the small taxpayer limit.
- VAT
- The standard rate is 23%, with reduced rates for certain supplies.
- Estonian model
- A lump-sum regime taxing distributed profit is available to qualifying companies.
- Payroll charges
- Employer contributions apply on top of gross salary; a sole shareholder has their own obligations.
- Obligations at home
- Owning a foreign company creates obligations in the beneficiary country of residence.
Annual upkeep
- Registered address
- Monthly accounting
- VAT returns and records
- Annual accounts
- Corporate tax return
- Payroll and contributions
- Beneficial owner register
- Bank compliance
Court fees, social contributions and permit costs appear as separate lines in the quote.
Bank
The bank account after incorporation
Polish banks work with foreign-owned companies but want to meet the board member.
- 01What the bank looks at
The activity, the customers, expected turnover, the local presence and the source of funds.
- 02Which documents are needed
The corporate set, board member identification, contracts and a description of the business.
- 03Where the account is opened
With Polish banks, and with European payment institutions for cross-border flows.
- 04What we do
We prepare the file, arrange the meeting and run the submission through to the result.
Most banks expect a personal visit from a board member. Where that is impossible we work with institutions that onboard remotely.
Stages2-3 weeks
How the work runs
Timelines are split by who is responsible.
- 01Consultation and structure
Activity, rate, ownership, VAT, banking.
One meeting - 02Quote and contract
We fix the scope of work and the amount.
1-2 days - 03Documents and translations
Collection of the set, translation and certification.
3-7 days - 04Incorporation
Filing with the national court register.
1-2 weeks - 05VAT registration
Application with substantiation and issue of the number.
2-6 weeks - 06Account and launch
Bank file, the meeting and account opening.
The bank sets the timing
Result: The outcome is an EU company in the largest market in the region: full documents, a VAT number, an account and a Polish accountant in place.
ComparisonPoland
Poland or Czechia
| Poland | Czechia | |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate tax | 9% for small companies, 19% standard | 21% |
| Market size | the largest in the region | medium |
| VAT | 23% | 21% |
| Incorporation time | 1-2 weeks | 2-3 weeks |
| Labour costs | medium | medium |
| Upkeep cost | low | low |
| Who it suits better | manufacturing and a large domestic market | stable services and administration |
Poland offers scale and a reduced rate for small companies; Czechia offers a calmer administrative environment.
TeamBRIDGES
Company team
Questions
Registration questions
What is the corporate tax rate?+
9% for small taxpayers and first-year companies within the statutory revenue limit, and 19% above it.
How long does incorporation take?+
One to two weeks with the court register; online incorporation can be faster where all parties have Polish electronic signatures.
Do I need a Polish director?+
No, but a registered address and a Polish accountant are required.
Why is a second shareholder often recommended?+
A sole shareholder in a limited liability company is treated as self-employed for social contributions.
How hard is it to open a bank account?+
Realistic, though most banks expect a board member to attend in person at least once.
How quickly can I get a VAT number?+
Two to six weeks; the tax office carries out substantive checks before registering.
Is an audit mandatory?+
Only above the statutory size thresholds.
Are filings in Polish?+
Yes, which is why a local accountant is part of the service.
Is the registry public?+
Yes, board members and shareholders are visible.
Can I hire foreign employees?+
Yes, through work permits; we support the process.
Do I have to declare the company at home?+
As a rule yes: owning a foreign company creates obligations in your country of residence.
What does upkeep cost?+
Address, accounting, VAT and, where relevant, payroll. It is one of the cheaper EU jurisdictions to maintain.
A company for your task
Tell us what the company will do: we will check whether the country fits and show the launch and upkeep budget before the contract.
- Other jurisdictionsA comparison of countries for company registration.
- A company in CzechiaThe neighbouring alternative in central Europe.
- Corporate accountsHow an account is opened and what the bank checks.
- BulgariaRegistration: 3-10 days · from €1 100
- CzechiaRegistration: 5-14 days · from €1 300
- HungaryRegistration: 3-7 days · from €1 400
Company registration
Want a company in Poland?
Write to us, we will set it up. We will choose the form, calculate the launch and the annual upkeep, register the company and help open the account.
