Poland considers religious tax reform to replace Church Fund

A petition has been submitted to the Polish Senate proposing a fundamental change to how religious communities are financed, potentially replacing the current Church Fund with a tax-based system. One proposal suggests an 8 percent income tax model similar to the German system, where citizens declare religious affiliation to direct funds to specific organizations.

Another proposal under consideration involves a 2 percent income tax deduction for chosen churches or religious unions. However, government analysis indicates that this 2 percent deduction could significantly increase state costs. While the 2026 budget allocates approximately 272.56 million PLN for the Church Fund, officials warn that the 2 percent deduction model could cost the state between one and several billion PLN.

Experts have raised concerns regarding the demographic impact of such changes, noting that many current believers are low-income retirees. Additionally, the government has been asked to provide a systemic analysis of the financial consequences of these potential reforms.