How much would I have to earn before paying the tax office in Poland?

So with my son finally being firmly rooted in nursery I was thinking about offering my services as a native speaker to have conversations with.

I have questions relating to this when it concerns the tax office. I have been reading about paying ZUS and the different rates but haven't been able to find the answer to one question.

How much would I have to be earning before I had to start paying any of that to the tax office?

From reading the ZUS is 300pln per month for the first 2 years and 800 thereafter, so if it doesn't go well and I have no other jobs lined up before the 2 year reduced rate is over, there would be the possibility of 800 being too much. Even 300 seems too much if I am just starting out. So if anyone could answer my question I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you for your time.

You must pay ZUS since 1st month independent of your earnings.

How are you meant to pay it if you don't earn the amount required though?

The ZUS is about 400zl each month for a limited time, then rises to around 1000zl. It's paid regardless of turnover or profit.
The income tax threshold is something like US$1000 per year (per tax year), after that you must pay tax on profits.

That's ridiculous, if you're not earning enough straight away you are going to be out of pocket until you build it up, which could take time.

That is ridiculous: T.I.P. (this is Poland).

There's a difference between thinking having to pay something even if you don't earn enough to pay it is stupid, and not liking the country. Considering the name you have chosen would it not be prudent of you to actually give out advice instead of interpreting things incorrectly?

Schmiznuf it was a joke, ok?;)

My advice is don't register and don't pay ZUS until you make enough.

Unfortunately it didn't read like one.

Thank you for the advice.

That's a particularly stupid plan. Breaking the law is rarely a good idea, screwing with the tax office is an even worse idea.


If you aren't sure you're going to earn 300zl per month, you might as well just not bother working at all. As a teacher 300zl per month is about 50 minutes per week of work.

I was only thinking of charging 30 per hour because I don't have teaching qualifications so would be offering my services only as someone for people to practise their English with. I feel if I were to charge more I would be asking too much.

It's stupid to tax people who don't have income.

If you don't want to pay ZUS and don't want to break the law. Register and don't pay ZUS. If you you can't make enough for living and paying tax you can close down the business and file for bankruptcy . Obviously you still have a dept to ZUS and they will suit you ,but in court you can say you don't have any money or asset ( if you don't have any) to pay the debt and they will leave you alone until you don't make more than polish basic pay.

Good luck

Hi. Tax in Poland are very high :( If you want be self-employed, you have to pay to ZUS 400zł per month during the first two years, leter it cost 2000 zł. Further you have to pay income tax, it is 21% your income.

That has to be the worst advice I have ever seen, specially since it is coming from someone with the name "UncleGoodAdvice".

Have you considered the fact that once he has filed for bankruptcy, he might as well just leave Poland because there won't be anything left for him here?

Your plan not to pay ZUS and if they come just to file for bankruptcy is for fools. You may have noticed that the OP has mentioned a child in his first post of this thread. Wrecklessness on the level as you have suggested is not an option anymore.

@ Schmiznurf, why don't you try to estimate your potential earnings first? Contact language schools etc. to check what they can offer you in terms of work. Registering yourself without at least having some kind of idea of what you might be able to earn is pointless in Poland. Once you register, the only people who know exactly what they will earn are the good people of ZUS and they will come for it one way or another.

Why he has to leave Poland? He may find a job and pay the debt.

I am not saying that he "has"to leave Poland but why risk being in debt to the state, having to declare bankruptcy with all its complications, just for the sake of teaching English with a small income in Poland?

It's not like the return on teaching English justifies the risk and complications of having to declare bankruptcy, specially not with a child.

No it doesn't. The three elements are 699.56zl, 279.41zl and 58.20zl.


Wrong again: it is 19%. And it's 19% of the profit (i.e. the net income).


That plan is nearly as stupid as your idea of not registering and not paying ZUS.