Start a Polish Holding Company
How to start a holding company in Poland, how it controls its subsidiaries and which taxes apply to it. Contact our Polish lawyers for tailored advice.
Holding companies in Poland
A Polish holding company is a legal entity that does not necessarily perform any commercial activities but it owns shares in another company. The holding will purchase an outstanding part of the shares meaning that it will have the power to take important decisions related to the owned company.
Foreign investors who choose to do business in Poland using a holding company are usually looking for certain advantages offered by this particular business form. Our Polish law firm can help you open a holding company in Poland and comply with the requirements for these types of legal entities. Businessmen interested in starting a holding company in another country, for example in Ireland, can receive professional company registration services from our partners – LawyersIreland.eu.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Legal entities used | Limited Liability Company |
| Incorporation method | Registration with the Polish National Court Register |
Incorporation time | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Advantages | Dividend taxation exemption possible under certain conditions |
| Precautions | Limitations for advantages available to holding companies and their subsidiaries located in the Polish special economic zones |
| Shareholding structure | The holding company needs to hold at least 10% of the shares in the subsidiary (subsidiaries) it controls in Poland in other to benefit from certain tax advantages |
| Minimum Capital | 5,000 PLN for the Limited Liability Company |
| Taxation | 19% standard corporate income tax rate and a 9% reduced tax Since 2022 there is also an optional Polish holding company (PSH) regime with a 95% exemption on qualifying dividends |
| Control | Direct or indirect shareholders (with limitations) |
| Accounting and Reporting | Annual financial statements. The final calculation of the income tax is made within 3 months of the end of the tax year |
| Number of double taxation treaties | >80 |
Advantages of a holding company
Since 2022 Poland has an optional holding company regime (Polish holding company, PSH, with a 95% exemption on dividends from qualifying subsidiaries); other holding companies can benefit from the taxation regime for dividends and capital gains. The main advantage of the holding company is that dividends received from qualifying subsidiaries can be exempt from corporate income tax.
Clients interested in starting a holding company in Poland should know that the withholding tax on dividends in this country is 19% but it can be reduced in the following cases:
– if a tax treaty applies;
– if the parent-subsidiary directive is applicable.
The EU Parent-Subsidiary directive is also applicable in Poland and it stipulates that dividends paid by a Polish tax resident company to an EU/EEA or Swiss parent company are exempt from the Polish withholding tax in the following conditions:
– the company receiving the dividends is not tax-exempt in its country;
– the recipient holds directly at least 10% of the shares in the Polish company for an uninterrupted period of at least two years;
– a tax information exchange exists between the countries where the companies are based.
Poland has signed a number of double tax treaties which allow for reduced withholding rates and are beneficial for all types of companies, holding companies included. If you need more details about these double tax treaties and about the process of setting up a holding company in Poland, our lawyers can help you.
Investments in Poland
Poland offers many business opportunities and foreign investors benefit from the same treatment as resident ones. The country has several Special Economic Zones where companies are offered benefits and incentives.
Our Polish law attorneys are accustomed with working with foreign investors and can provide you various legal services and details about the types of taxes available in Poland.
You can contact us if you want to know more about how to start a holding company in Poland or other business types, as well as the legislation for foreign investments. In case you need VAT registration services or EORI registration services, our lawyers are ready to assist you.
LawyersPoland.eu is part of Bridgewest, an international company specialized in providing clients with legal and company formation services in over 65 countries, among which are: Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Liechtenstein or even Asian countries like Singapore, Thailand or Hong Kong. Whether you are interested in company formation in Hong Kong or in another country, our partners can help you.
Justyn Reterski, Attorney at Law · 2 October 2026