Poland urged by EU officials to adopt cadastral property tax, New Left drafts bill

EU Council officials have criticised Poland’s current flat‑rate property tax as too low and regressive, recommending the introduction of a cadastral tax that would be calculated on the market value of homes and land. The proposal suggests a rate starting at 0.02 % of the property’s value, rising to 1.5 % for multiple or larger holdings, which could raise an annual bill of up to 8,000 zł for high‑value apartments.

The Polish government, including Finance Minister Andrzej Domański, says it has no plans to adopt such a tax. In contrast, the New Left party has prepared a draft law to replace the existing tax with the cadastral system, arguing that the current regime fuels speculative demand and keeps housing prices high. The party’s bill would set the initial rate at 0.02 % of market value, increasing for additional properties, and would target a broader tax base across the country.