The Polish Chamber of Digital Economy (e-Izba) has strongly opposed the Ministry of Finance’s plan to expand the retail sales tax to include online commerce. In a position paper published on June 11, 2025, and addressed to Prime Minister Donald Tusk, the organization representing Poland’s e-commerce sector warns that the proposed tax could severely impact small and medium-sized online businesses, reduce their competitiveness, and stall the growth of the digital economy.
New Tax Poses a Threat to Thousands of Online Entrepreneurs
According to e-Izba, including distance sales—such as transactions carried out by online stores and digital platforms—under the scope of the retail sales tax would significantly increase operational costs for thousands of e-businesses. The change would hit local micro-enterprises and small-scale producers the hardest, especially those that have leveraged the low entry barriers of e-commerce to compete effectively, even in international markets.
The organization emphasizes that online retail operates under a fundamentally different cost structure and business model compared to large-format brick-and-mortar stores. Applying the same taxation model to both sectors, e-Izba argues, would distort market competition and give an unfair advantage to dominant players.
Unequal Playing Field Between EU and Non-EU Platforms
One of e-Izba’s key criticisms of the ministry’s proposal is that the new tax would likely not apply to large foreign marketplaces operating outside the European Union. In practice, this would mean that the burden would fall mainly on Polish firms selling through domestic platforms such as Allegro, Eobuwie, or Empik.
The organization warns that such an approach—combined with mounting price pressure from Asian marketplaces—could further erode fair competition, discourage innovation, and stifle sector growth.
A Fiscal Grab Rather Than Fair Regulation?
The authors of the statement argue that the proposed tax changes are driven not by a genuine attempt to level the playing field but by the desire to increase budget revenues. e-Izba points out that the original purpose of the retail tax was to support local shops against large retail chains. In the case of e-commerce, such an effect would not materialize. On the contrary, new burdens would disproportionately affect the smallest players, who are already struggling with tough market conditions.
Prime Minister Praises Growth, Digital Sector Urges Caution
The position paper references Prime Minister Tusk’s recent speech, in which he highlighted Poland’s leading GDP growth rate in the EU over the past 18 months. According to e-Izba, this success was largely driven by Polish entrepreneurs—including those in the e-commerce sector. The introduction of an additional tax, the chamber argues, could undermine the sector’s motivation for further expansion and weaken the country’s positive economic momentum.
e-Izba’s Appeal: Refine, Don’t Expand
In closing, the Polish Chamber of Digital Economy calls for:
- Halting the expansion of the retail sales tax to include e-commerce;
- Focusing legislative work on refining the current tax regulations;
- Avoiding any additional fiscal burdens on the digital commerce sector.
The position paper was not only addressed to the Prime Minister but also sent to the Ministers of Finance, Development, and Digital Affairs, as well as to the heads of key parliamentary committees dealing with innovation and economic policy.
Source: CEO.com.pl – e-Izba opposes retail tax extension to e-commerce
