Work / Information about jobs for Indian students in Poland [286]


More than enough. You'll get access to government healthcare though your tax payments. A shared room will cost you about 500PLN month maximum, so the salary will provide you with the chance to save a little bit of money too.

Travel / English cigarettes - where to buy in Poland? [41]

You can't.

Work / Work in Poland after finishing university in the UK (business management) [3]

What was the last class of Polish school that you finished?

Work / Need advice preparing invoice for my employer - B2B contract [13]

One thing that I've heard them pull up people on is the lack of genuine business expenses - for instance, not buying computer equipment/accessories every so often. I had a chat with an HR manager friend of mine, and she says that they go as far as not supplying any equipment to contractors so that it's clearly a B2B relationship.

Work / Need advice preparing invoice for my employer - B2B contract [13]


Yes, there are several things that they use to judge this. It can include:

- Does the contractor receive any benefits from the company? (lunch vouchers/private healthcare/Multisport cards/etc)
- Does the contract have a fixed place of work with an assigned desk and other 'typical employee' things?
- Does the contractor have a named manager?
- Does the contract have annual leave (holidays)?
- Is the contractor obliged to work a set amount of hours?

A true B2B contract should offer maximum flexibility for the contractor, and while informal deals can take place between employee and employer, the paperwork should always represent how a real contractor would work.

Work / Need advice preparing invoice for my employer - B2B contract [13]

Aha, so this is good, you can fix the mistake:)

So, you'll need to ask for 11,700PLN roughly to get to 8600 net. Add in accountancy costs, and you're at nearly 12,000 + VAT.

Ask them for 13,000PLN + VAT. On a B2B contract, you cannot receive any corporate benefits, so you should factor that into the calculations. Also, make sure that there are no set working hours, and check to make sure that you can invoice for 160 hours monthly regardless of holidays.

There are quite a few pitfalls associated with B2B contracts, usually involving companies not paying holidays or other time off.

Aim for 14,000 + VAT, but don't drop below 11,500+VAT under any circumstance.

Work / Need advice preparing invoice for my employer - B2B contract [13]


I can tell you with 99% confidence that they understood it as 8.6k netto plus VAT. B2B contracts are always structured in this way, and businesses will rarely agree to netto+costs because it's too complicated to work out from their POV.

Did you tell them this face-to-face, or was it accepted in an e-mail/written offer from them?

Do you have a contract? I'm happy to look at it for you to see what they understood by your offer.


And they're likely not to accept it if the contract clearly states x netto.

Work / Need advice preparing invoice for my employer - B2B contract [13]

Unfortunately, you've screwed yourself over quite badly. In a B2B contract, 8,600 netto is understood as 8600PLN+23% VAT. There's no allowance for insurance, income tax or other deductions - you're expected to cover those from the net amount.

Law / Caught speeding - Do points go against PESEL in Poland? [7]


Yes. You can check your driving record online - obywatel.gov.pl/kierowcy-i-pojazdy/punkty-karne-ile-mam-punktow-karnych-za-mandaty

If you don't have a PESEL, then they create a 'ghost' record for you which contains the points. As does Germany, incidentally.

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]


Wasn't he a notorious alcoholic and dreadful military man? I used executed, because it's hard to imagine him actually fighting.

I'm sorry to see the monument go, because those PRL-era monuments are part of history for me. I know it's different for you, but they are a connection to a different era for me. For me, the presence of these monuments reminded me of what was - and a reminder of what we should fight against.

I would, personally, prefer to see such monuments left in place, with information boards to explain what they stood for in those times and what the truth actually is today.

While we're on the topic - are there any memorials to those that were forced out of their homes during Akcja Wisła? I've been in Bieszczady several times and never seen one...

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]


The statue/memorial in Jabłonki of General Karol Świerczewski, who was executed by the UPA there during the ethnic cleansing of Bieszczady and surrounding areas.

Quite a popular tourist attraction:)

Life / Why are Poles in other countries called "Plastic Poles"? [168]


There was widespread corruption associated with the issuing of the Karta Polaka. I don't know if it was the same in Russia, but Ukraine was notorious for it.

Travel / Is it safe to drive in Poland? [43]


I've just checked, and it seems that they deal with it in a simple way: if you refuse to identify the driver, they simply won't allow you to renew your registration.They're also apparently got systems that automatically match the driver's face to the photo on the licence. The initial citations are issued to the car owner, not the driver, unless they've automatically matched them to the offence.

The other thing is that speed camera tickets seem to be a civil, not criminal offence, so the 5th amendment doesn't apply.

Travel / Is it safe to drive in Poland? [43]


At least in Poland, you're supposed to have a proper contract of sale, with the identity card / passport numbers of the seller. If you have that, you aren't responsible.

Travel / Is it safe to drive in Poland? [43]


If you own a lethal weapon, you've certainly got responsibility for the use of a lethal weapon.


Then if you don't want to get someone in trouble, you can take the fine yourself.

If you don't remember, then you give them the people that might have driven it on that day and they'll figure it out. However, normally photographs are taken from the front, so the person can be easily identified. If you're the owner of the car and you don't recognise who is driving your car, then there are problems ;)


Can't talk for the US, but in Poland, most trouble is caused by middle aged angry men, not young people.

Are you familiar with this youtube channel, Johnny?

youtube.com/channel/UCJ0VFYHC4J6KhC_ohzrJ0eA

Plenty of Polish lunatics for you.

Travel / Is it safe to drive in Poland? [43]


If you don't identify the driver, then the punishment is given to the owner(s) of the car.

If you do identify the driver and provide their details, then the criminal will be prosecuted and an arrest warrant will be issued for them if they don't pay the fine in time. Next time they cross a Schengen border, they'll be detained and extradited to Poland.

Travel / Is it safe to drive in Poland? [43]

No, you can't ignore it. If the police stop you, you'll have to pay the fine on the spot, and if you don't have cash, they'll keep the car until you pay.

If it's a fine from a speed camera, then the owner of the car will have to give your details.


I think it's changed, you know. I remember Spain 30 years ago and they were appalling, but I've been in Spain several times over the last 5 years and everyone was so peaceful and quiet. The only insane place was Gibraltar, where they drive like lunatics...

As for Poles, they're absolutely abysmal. I really should get a dashcam so I could upload highlights of all the insane things I've seen, including one guy the other day who jumped a red light next to me. The light had been red for a good 20 seconds! I drive fast when it's safe, but I don't jump red lights or tailgate!

Travel / Is it safe to drive in Poland? [43]


Happened to me three times in the space of 2 hours yesterday. One guy was losing his head despite me doing 110km/h on a 90km/h limit, and of course, he overtook me in a dangerous and idiotic way.

Average speed cameras are starting to be used in Poland, and I welcome them.

Life / Political correctness in Poland [210]


It seems to be a common excuse in right wing circles. I know someone in the Polonia who did a very similar thing a couple of weeks ago, and he too blamed "his assistant". When pushed, he couldn't explain how his assistant managed to do all those things without his knowledge.

Life / Slogans and designs on Polish T-shirts also represent culture of Poland [25]


I mean, it's a good way to tell everyone that you're not quite normal and should be avoided.

Wear the Kotwica on your arse and show everyone how patriotic you are!

(I really wish they would actually enforce the law on this, putting national symbols on all sorts of junk is disgusting)

Law / Are foreigners with kids on work visa in Poland eligible for the "Family 500 PLN" benefit money? [36]


Perhaps not, because PiS don't actually control that many local governments. It would probably hurt wealthier gminas more, because they're the ones likely to have nice things like swimming pools to pay for. A poor rural gmina would only really have to fund schools and not much else, and even then, they'd get away with only funding primary schools. Those poor gminas could also be subsidised in some way by central government, while forcing those in wealthier areas to pay more.

Life / Childcare / Creche in Poland - typical cost? [15]

Just a hint, but many of the more expensive ones actually have worse problems than cheaper ones.

Look into the educational background of the staff. You'll find that expensive nurseries often cut corners by hiring people without actual pedagogical qualifications, and they're officially employed as pedagogical assistants. I could name you two or three of them where they have a seemingly excellent offer, but the teachers carrying out most of the care are actually unqualified. One nursery I know was using Ukrainians on minimum wage for signing documents, while using unqualified English speakers to actually do the work.

Law / Are foreigners with kids on work visa in Poland eligible for the "Family 500 PLN" benefit money? [36]

I don't think they'll increase VAT. It's much more likely that they'll introduce the cadastral tax and remove PIT transfers to local governments, to be honest. They could then blame local governments for high taxes.

Life / Childcare / Creche in Poland - typical cost? [15]

About 1000-1200zł a month for English language nursery/kindergarten. Might be lower in some areas, but budget for that.

Law / Are foreigners with kids on work visa in Poland eligible for the "Family 500 PLN" benefit money? [36]


More free money. The government has been quietly cancelling tenders for infrastructure projects, and hospital debts are getting worse and worse.


PiS is worse for one simple reason: they've wrecked the education system. Have you read the NIK report?

Law / Are foreigners with kids on work visa in Poland eligible for the "Family 500 PLN" benefit money? [36]


Yes, agreed. That, combined with the scaremongering (KE will take away your money) was more than enough. I actually think that these elections were almost completely about social welfare promises for PiS voters and nothing else. That would also explain why people voted for PiS despite claiming that they would go for Kukiz/Konfederacja. People are saying that the PiS voters ran to defend the church, but I don't believe it.


Possible, but the UK and Poland exchange social insurance information. Most people wouldn't be so stupid as to try and pull the same stunt in two countries at once, and I wouldn't be surprised if they check this regularly.

Law / Are foreigners with kids on work visa in Poland eligible for the "Family 500 PLN" benefit money? [36]


No conditions. Everyone gets it in Poland as long as they have children under 18. In a few months, it will be 500zł per month per child regardless of income.

You can apply for it through a Polish bank account quickly and easily.

I encourage all migrants to Poland to apply for it ASAP so that there are no delays in payment.

Work / Tax calculation filing jointly and having 2 kids - Poland [13]

No, it's more complicated than that. If you file joint tax returns, then you pay 18% of everything above ~6000PLN/year, and 32% above 171,056PLN/year. There are some tax credits that will raise the amount slightly, but nothing worth talking about.

If you pay more than that during the year in advance tax payments, then you'll be refunded after submitting a tax return.

Work / Tax calculation filing jointly and having 2 kids - Poland [13]


No, not quite like that. The main benefit from joint declarations is that you combine the tax base, so you only pay 32% once you reach 171,056zł together.

Work / Tax calculation filing jointly and having 2 kids - Poland [13]

1) Almost all income is taxable, with the exception of some subsidies such as for installing solar panels.
2) There are some tax credits, but they're so low as to not worth thinking about.
3) Yes, NFZ is taken from the gross salary, not net.
4) Yes.