In the Polish Senate, there is simply a turbulent debate that can radically change the way churches are financed in Poland. There's an introductory bill on the table. 8 % church tax, deducted straight from the salaries of persons declaring to belong to spiritual communities. It is simply a proposal that inspires utmost emotions: from the enthusiasm of supporters, who see it as an chance for greater transparency, to the fears of critics who inform against the mass outflow of believers and weakening spiritual institutions. Decisions which will be taken in the coming weeks can have a immense impact on the portfolios of millions of Poles and the future of the state-church relationship.
8% of the salary. Who will pay “the gift of faith”?
The project, colloquially referred to as "the gift of faith", assumes that the work to pay a fresh fee would apply only to those citizens who formally declare their affiliation to the chosen spiritual union. What does this mean in practice? If you are a Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant or a believer of another religion and You won't make a formal appearance, regardless of your salary, regardless of the form of employment (employment contract, order or work), 8% of gross remuneration will be deducted. This is simply a circumstantial amount, which for a individual earning a national average, or about PLN 7,500 gross, would mean additional charge of PLN 600 per month. Employers would be obliged to transfer these funds to the taxation office and then transfer them to the accounts of the respective spiritual unions. The only way to avoid this charge would be to officially declare atheism or to step out of a spiritual organization, which can be a hard decision for many. It is worth noting that this solution is modelled on a German model, where a akin taxation has been in operation for years and is 8-9% income tax.
Transparency or mass drain? The main arguments of the debate.
Supporters of the fresh tax, including petitioners, argue that the current strategy of financing churches in Poland is archaic and opaque. It is based mainly on voluntary donations of the faithful, collection on trays (which, according to estimates, represent only about 30-40% of the parish's receipts) and on State budget grantswhich totaled over PLN 2 billion in 2023. The introduction of ecclesiastical taxation would bring a revolutionary change: clear principles, increased public control over the finances of churches and a real reflection of the number of believers who actually support their communities. This is simply a step towards greater transparency and financial responsibility. On the another hand, critics of the thought express serious concerns. They indicate that the introduction of specified a tribute may lead to mass formal occurrence from churches, which in the long word will drastically weaken their funding. It is estimated that in the last 10 years the number of Poles declaring membership of the Catholic Church has decreased by about 5 percent points, and the introduction of an additional fee could velocity up this trend, leading to the financial crisis of spiritual institutions.
What's next on the project? Key terms and procedures.
The destiny of the controversial task is now in the hands of the Senate. The petition has already been addressed to the legislature Committee on Petitions, which is tasked with assessing its legitimacy and deciding whether it will enter the plenary session of the advanced home of Parliament. Right now. the date of the gathering is not yet set In this case, which increases uncertainty. Experts foretell that even if the Committee on Petitions welcomes the project, the way to adopt it will be long and bumpy. If the legislature yet accepts this solution, it will only be the first step. The final word will belong to the Sejm, which will besides gotta vote on the bill and then to the President, who has the right to veto. The full legislative process may take months or even years, but the debate itself in the legislature already shows how much emotion the issue of the financing of Churches in Poland raises. Follow us on Google News to keep up with developments.
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Do you have faith? From 2025 you will pay 8% of your salary. The legislature is considering church tax.
