Archives: Aktualności członków

We encourage you to read the Annual Report for 2014. The report is available at www.swisschamber.pl/documents/IZBA_Sprawozdanie2014.pdf

A press conference, which took place in the headquarters of AHK, presented the report of the survey on economic situation and investment attractiveness of Poland, conducted in February and March 2015.

Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Slovakia – these are investment locations that are most preferred by foreign investors in Central and Eastern Europe – according to the 10th jubilee edition of Economic Survey conducted every year by the Polish–German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK Poland), in cooperation with nine chambers of commerce in Poland: Belgian, British, French, Spanish, Irish, Canadian, Portuguese, Swiss and Italian.

Subject of the transport:
Power station parts with a total weight of 1,000 tonnes

Transport route:

Loading: various collection sites across Europe
Port of loading: Gdynia, Poland
Destination ports: Veracruz (Mexico) and Port Manatee (USA)
Delivery: two power stations – Mexico (Tabasco) and the USA (Florida)

Project description:

The logistical undertaking entailed deliveries of parts to two power stations located in North America over a period of time. In cooperation with other Fracht Group branches we organised collection of cargoes from a number of suppliers located in different European countries together with deliveries to the Port of Gdynia (Poland). The subject of the transport were both standard loads – delivered to the port in 40’FR and 40’HC type containers and oversize loads. Due to their size, once appropriate permits for haulage were obtained, the oversize loads were transported on specialist low floor semi-trailers.

Two ship cranes (180 tonnes lift capacity each) and two mobile cranes (100 tonnes lift capacity each) loaded the cargo onto a chartered vessel which then embarked on a transoceanic voyage. The Fracht Basel office was responsible for these stages of the project.

We kindly say “thank you” to our colleagues from the office in Basel for placing the trust and confidence in our team project. We express our hope for further and equally fruitful cooperation.

Rzeczpospolita has awarded the title of a socially-friendly audit company to Rödl & Partner for its corporate social responsibility activities in 2014. Only four audit companies in Poland have been so awarded for the last year. Rzeczpospolita has honoured Rödl & Partner this way for the second year in a row.

We at Rödl & Partner pay special attention not only to the quality of our services but also to how we affect the world we live in. In practice, this means activities for the benefit of local communities, charity support and sustainable internal policy of the company. – says Magdalena Ludwiczak, Auditor (Poland), Partner at Rödl & Partner in charge of audit in Poland.

Rödl & Partner is active globally and locally. We have been working with the Children’s Villages foundation for several years. However, we were also keen on engaging at local level. That is why in 2014 we started working with the Promyk Słońca foundation giving them what we’re best at – high quality audit services. – says Therese Baginski, Auditor (Poland), Partner at Rödl & Partner in charge of audit in Poland.

For more information please visit Rödl & Partner’s website (“Awards” at www.roedl.com/pl/en)

Doing business in more than one special economic zone

According to the well-established case law an enterprise that has several zone permits may keep one set of accounting records in order to calculate income from the business activity in the special economic zone. Such an opinion has been substantiated in e.g. advance tax rulings issued by the Director of Tax Chamber in Łódź of 13/12/2013 (file no. IPTPB3/423-367/13-3/MF) or the ruling of 10/10/2013by the Director of Tax Chamber in Katowice (file no. IBPBI/2/423-829/13/JD).

The tax authorities further say that an enterprise operating in the zone should specify the maximum available state aid, on the basis of all its expenses eligible for aid, and should compare it to the amount of aid already received in any form. As a consequence, an enterprise may enjoy exemption on income from the business in the zone by virtue of several different permits.

This allows an enterprise to utilise the state aid limit in a chronological order. An enterprise may in the first place use the aid limit under the permit issued earliest, and once this is used up or expired it may use the limit under the second permit.

However, this favourable interpretation is not so consistent if the zone permit is for business in several different zones. In his advance tax ruling of 18/11/2011 the Director of Tax Chamber in Katowice confirmed that even though a company conducted a tax-exempt activity in two special economic zones at the same time (Mielecka Special Economic Zone (MSEZ) and Katowice Special Economic Zone (KSEZ), the company would be obliged to keep separate records of taxable income (earned beyond the permits) and exempt income (earned under the permits). Still, the company would not have to divide the income earned under individual permits. The company would then be entitled to exempt income in the amount being the product of the available state aid limit and the eligible expenses under individual permits, discounting accounted for. Thus calculated amount of aid available to the enterprise would be consumed by tax-exempt income earned in line with the permits.

Still, the Director of Tax Chamber in Katowice took a different stance in his advance tax ruling of 19/12/2014, file no. IBPBI/1/423-84/14/KB, claiming that the permit for business activity is issued for a specific business activity exclusively in one specific special economic zone. The limits of available aid, i.e. the maximum aid intensity, are also set separately for each zone. Therefore, if a business is carried on in several special economic zones the enterprise should assess the available state aid limit separately for each zone, taking into account the maximum state aid limit applicable to the province in which the zone is located, i.e. with respect to the income earned from business activity in the given zone.

In view of the above interpretation inconsistencies, if you run a business activity in more than one special economic zone, we recommend applying to the Minister of Finance for an advance tax ruling. Our tax advisers would be glad to draft such an application for you. Furthermore, Rödl & Partner offices in Gdansk, Gliwice, Cracow, Poznan, Warsaw and Wroclaw can offer professional tax and legal advice on special economic zones and other areas of your specific interest in Poland.

For more information about special economic zones please visit Rödl & Partner’s website (“Hot news” at www.roedl.com/pl).

Rödl & Partner was no. 8 in terms of revenue in the Rzeczpospolita‘s 2014 ranking of audit firms. Yet another year in the top ten most profitable audit firms confirms Rödl & Partner’s strong position in the market.

The high position in the audit market requires us to continuously develop our working tools and adapt them to international standards, constantly improve quality and effectiveness of audit services, but above all to serve clients globally. This is what our clients expect more and more. They want comprehensive services combining audit of financial statements with legal and tax advice. This is what makes us strong in the Polish audit market – says Magdalena Ludwiczak, Auditor (PL), Partner at Rödl & Partner in charge of audit in Poland.

As evident from the “Audit firms by revenue” ranking, the strong market position may be based on quality, not quantity. Our experience tells us that clients who operate internationally or have foreign equity are more aware of the importance of audit services. Such clients realise that this is not the area to cut costs and they pay great attention to reliable and professional services they are offered. This quality-oriented approach bears fruits – we score high in audit firm rankings every year – Therese Baginski, Auditor (PL), Partner at Rödl & Partner in charge of audit in Poland.

Rödl & Partner has been ranked yet again among the most effective tax consulting firms. The permanent presence among the leading large tax consultants (in the category of “tax consulting firms employing ten or more tax advisers”) confirms Rödl & Partner’s reputation and stable position in the Polish market.

Tax advice, like audit, legal advice, accounting outsourcing and outsourcing of HR and payroll, is one of the foundations of Rödl & Partner’s business in Poland and the world round. That is why we pay so much attention to the quality of our tax services. Not without significance is the fact that Rödl & Partner has been present in Poland for more than 20 years. This has helped us gain vast and diversified experience and build an effective team of tax advisers and specialists. German standards oblige us to pay extra attention to reliability and quality of our services. Importantly, our advice addresses the real needs of our clients. All this has placed us among the most effective tax consulting firms for many years – says Aneta Majchrowicz-Bączyk, Partner at Rödl & Partner, in charge of legal advisory services in Poland and tax advisory services in Poland.

For more details please visit also the website of Rödl & Partner (News on www.roedl.com/pl/en)

We are very pleased to announce that BALAJCZA Specialized Translations was a partner of the Conference “Made in Poland”, which was held on 26 March 2015 in Warsaw. It was another conference organized by the publishing house Valkea for its yearbook Made in Poland. For BALAJCZA it was also another time, when we could supply our services of simultaneous interpreting at this kind of event.

The conference was a unique opportunity to debate between the invited experts, authorities on the subject of export and the Polish economy. The main topics were the “New directions in exports” and “Opportunities and barriers of export for Polish companies”. With the Russian embargo on Polish products, domestic entrepreneurs need to find new markets for their products. The discussion was attended by among others .: Michael Dembiński – Chief Advisor to the British Chamber of BPCC, Ryszard Sznajder – President of the Polish-Indian Chamber of Commerce, Peter Soroczyński – Chief Economist of KUKE.

Legia Warszawa prepared a special offer for members of the Polish-Swiss Chamber of Commerce.

When purchasing a VIP Pass (Gold or Silver) you will receive a unique Polish Champion shirt signed by the players.

It gives us the utmost pleasure to announce that this coming Sunday BALAJCZA will celebrate its 5th anniversary.

It was exactly 5 years ago on 15th of March that Timea Balajcza established BALAJCZA. Iwona Bułacz, who is still looking after the Customer Service department was the first staff member.

Today, BALAJCZA is a dynamic, international business with presence across numerous markets around the world. We work with sworn and ordinary translators and interpreters. Financial, legal, technical and marketing translations lie at the core of our operations and at the same time are areas at which we excel. Our services span all world languages. We work with more than 900 specialists in their chosen fields.

Apart from interpreting we also provide comprehensive conference services and gladly accommodate those looking for personalised one-on-one English and French language courses.

To celebrate our anniversary, from today until the 31st of March, a 50 zł (net) discount will be available on all orders above 200 zł (net). To redeem the discount quote the code: “BALAJCZA’s 5th anniversary”.

The next edition of Swissness Worldwide – a survey on perception of Switzerland as a brand has been conducted in December 2014.

The initiator of this research is University St. Gallen, which has carried out such surveys for several years in 14 countries important for Switzerland (more). The first study regarding Poland was commissioned by the Chamber in December 2011.

Below you may find the results of the survey.