American Investors Criticize Poland's Digital Services Tax Plan

Major U.S. companies have criticized Poland’s proposed digital services tax, contending that the policy unfairly burdens foreign business interests. The Polish government is set to launch public consultation on the draft legislation imminently, marking a significant escalation in the digital taxation debate within Europe.

How Poland’s 3% Digital Tax Would Work

The proposed levy targets companies with global annual revenues exceeding 1 billion euros and Polish-declared earnings of at least 25 million zlotys (approximately $7 million). According to Jin10, the tax rate would be set at 3% and apply to digital platforms engaged in advertising services, processing of user data, and facilitation of online transactions. This aligns with broader European Union initiatives to tax large technology firms that generate substantial revenues from digital activities.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Why This Policy Threatens Investment

Marta Pawlak, Director of Legal and Public Policy at the American Chamber of Commerce in Poland, has criticized the initiative as a problematic departure from historical cooperation. “This proposal fails to recognize the substantial contributions American investors have made to Poland’s economic development,” Pawlak stated. She emphasized that U.S. companies have deployed $60 billion in assets across the country, and warned that such taxation signals an unsettling message to American business investors operating in multiple sectors.

Broader Trade Tensions Between Washington and Europe

The policy criticism comes amid escalating transatlantic tensions. The Trump administration has already indicated it may impose countermeasures against the European Union’s taxation of U.S. technology companies. These digital tax disputes represent just one facet of broader disagreements, following previous confrontations over trade policies and geopolitical issues including territorial claims.