Inheritance and gift tax in Poland
Learn how to settle inheritance and gift tax (podatek od spadków i darowizn) in Poland. Find out which tax group you belong to, whether you are entitled to an exemption, how to fill in form SD-Z2 or SD-3 and by when to submit the declaration — step by step.
Variants
Close family (group 0 — exempt)
Acquisition from spouse, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, siblings, stepfather, stepmother, stepchildren
More distant family (groups I and II)
Acquisition from in-laws, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, aunts/uncles, cousins and other more distant relatives
Unrelated persons (group III)
Acquisition from an unrelated person (friend, acquaintance, informal partner)
How to handle it — step by step
The amount of inheritance and gift tax depends on the tax group you belong to — i.e. the degree of kinship with the person from whom you are acquiring assets.
Group 0 (zero) — close family
Full exemption from tax, subject to reporting the acquisition within 6 months.
Persons: spouse, descendants (children, grandchildren), ancestors (parents, grandparents), siblings, stepfather, stepmother, stepchild.
Group I
More distant family members: in-laws, son-in-law, daughter-in-law.
- Tax-free threshold: PLN 36,120
- Rates: 3–7% (on the excess above the threshold)
Group II
More distant relatives: parents' siblings (aunts/uncles), descendants of siblings, spouses of siblings, siblings of spouses, spouses of more distant descendants.
- Tax-free threshold: PLN 27,090
- Rates: 7–12%
Group III
Unrelated persons and all others.
- Tax-free threshold: PLN 18,060
- Rates: 12–20%
Tax-free thresholds
Tax is calculated on the excess above the threshold. The thresholds apply to the total value of acquisitions from the same person within 5 years.
If you acquire assets from a person in group 0 (close family), you may claim full exemption from tax — regardless of the value of the acquisition.
Conditions for exemption
- Report the acquisition to the tax office on form SD-Z2 within 6 months of:
- The date the tax obligation arises (for a gift — from the date of receipt)
- The date a court order on acquisition of inheritance becomes final
- The date the notarial deed of inheritance confirmation is registered
- For a cash gift — document the receipt of money by bank transfer or postal order (not cash)
When is the exemption NOT available?
- Missing the 6-month deadline for submitting SD-Z2
- Cash gift made in cash (no evidence of bank transfer)
- Acquisition from a person outside group 0
SD-Z2 online
Form SD-Z2 can be submitted electronically via e-Deklaracje at podatki.gov.pl.
Important
If you do not report the acquisition within 6 months, you lose the right to the exemption and must pay tax as for group I.
Documents
- Form SD-Z2 (notification of acquisition of property or property rights)RequiredAvailable at podatki.gov.pl or at the tax office
- Court order on acquisition of inheritance or notarial deed of inheritance confirmationRequiredFor inheritance — document confirming the acquisition
- Bank transfer confirmation (for a cash gift)RequiredA cash gift must be evidenced by a bank transfer, not cash
If you are not entitled to a group 0 exemption, you must calculate and pay tax on the excess above the tax-free threshold.
Tax rates
Group I (tax-free threshold: PLN 36,120):
| Excess above threshold | Rate |
|---|---|
| up to PLN 11,833 | 3% |
| PLN 11,833 – 23,665 | PLN 355 + 5% of excess above PLN 11,833 |
| above PLN 23,665 | PLN 946.60 + 7% of excess above PLN 23,665 |
Group II (tax-free threshold: PLN 27,090):
| Excess above threshold | Rate |
|---|---|
| up to PLN 11,833 | 7% |
| PLN 11,833 – 23,665 | PLN 828.30 + 9% of excess above PLN 11,833 |
| above PLN 23,665 | PLN 1,893.20 + 12% of excess above PLN 23,665 |
Group III (tax-free threshold: PLN 18,060):
| Excess above threshold | Rate |
|---|---|
| up to PLN 11,833 | 12% |
| PLN 11,833 – 23,665 | PLN 1,420 + 16% of excess above PLN 11,833 |
| above PLN 23,665 | PLN 3,313.10 + 20% of excess above PLN 23,665 |
Example (group III)
Gift of PLN 100,000 from a friend:
- Tax-free threshold: PLN 18,060
- Excess: PLN 81,940
- Tax: PLN 3,313.10 + 20% × (81,940 − 23,665) = PLN 3,313.10 + PLN 11,655 = PLN 14,968.10
Documents
- Documents confirming the value of the acquired assetsRequiredProperty valuation, bank account statement, notarial deed, etc.
Fees
| Payment method | Fee |
|---|---|
bank transfer Exemptions: Amount depends on the value of acquisition and tax group; group 0 — exempt; groups I–III — progressive rates | 0,00 PLN |
If you must pay tax (groups I, II, III without exemption), you file tax return SD-3 at the tax office.
Deadline
1 month from the date the tax obligation arises:
- For a gift: from the date it is made (signing the gift agreement or receipt of funds)
- For inheritance: from the date the court order on acquisition becomes final or the notarial deed of inheritance confirmation is registered
How to fill in SD-3?
- Enter your personal details
- Enter the details of the transferor (donor or testator)
- State the degree of kinship (tax group)
- List the acquired assets with their market value
- Enter debts and encumbrances reducing the tax base
- Calculate the tax
SD-3 online
Form SD-3 can be submitted electronically via e-Deklaracje.
SD-3/A (joint acquisition)
If several persons acquire assets simultaneously (e.g. siblings inheriting from a deceased person), each of them submits a separate SD-3 and enters shared information in attachment SD-3/A.
Jurisdiction of the tax office
- Inheritance: tax office with jurisdiction over the last place of residence of the deceased
- Gift: tax office with jurisdiction over the place of residence of the acquirer
Documents
- Tax return SD-3 (with attachment SD-3/A if applicable)RequiredAvailable at podatki.gov.pl or at the tax office
- Court order on acquisition of inheritance or notarial deed of inheritance confirmationRequiredFor inheritance — confirms the date and scope of acquisition
- Gift agreement or notarial deedRequiredFor a gift — confirms the value and date of acquisition
- Documents confirming the value of the assetsOptionalProperty valuation, bank statements, appraisal reports
The method of payment depends on your situation.
Group 0 — you submitted SD-Z2
If you submitted SD-Z2 within 6 months, you do not pay tax. The tax office will accept the notification and the matter is closed.
Groups I, II, III — you submitted SD-3
After submitting SD-3 the tax office issues an assessment decision setting the amount of tax. You will receive the decision by post or via ePUAP.
You must pay the tax within 14 days of the delivery of the decision.
Which account?
Inheritance and gift tax is paid to the account of the tax office (not to the tax micro-account). You can find the account number:
- In the tax decision
- On the tax office website
Payment methods
- Bank transfer to the tax office account
- Cash at the tax office cashier
- e-Tax Office — online payment
Cannot pay in one lump sum?
You may apply for:
- Instalment payment
- Deferral of the payment deadline
- Write-off (in exceptional circumstances)
Documents
- Assessment decision (groups I–III)RequiredIssued by the tax office after submitting SD-3
Fees
| Payment method | Fee |
|---|---|
bank transfer Exemptions: Group 0: full exemption; groups I–III: amount in the tax office decision | 0,00 PLN |
Regardless of the tax group, acquirers of residential property by inheritance or gift may be entitled to residential property relief.
Who may use it?
Persons in groups I and II who:
- Acquire a residential building or residential flat (or a share therein)
- Acquire a right to a cooperative flat
- Will reside in the acquired property for 5 years from the date of acquisition
- Do not own another residential property (or own one but will dispose of it within 6 months)
What does the relief cover?
The value of up to 110 m² of usable floor area is exempt. The excess above 110 m² is subject to tax.
Conditions
- Residing in the property for at least 5 years
- No other residential property (or disposing of it within the deadline)
- The property must not be used for business activity
Note
The residential property relief is separate from the group 0 exemption (SD-Z2). It can be used even when acquiring from more distant relatives.
Documents
- Declaration of intent to reside in the acquired propertyRequiredCommitment to reside for 5 years
- Declaration of not owning another residential propertyRequiredOr declaration of intent to dispose of another property within 6 months
After completion
Keep a copy of SD-Z2 or SD-3, the tax decision and payment confirmations for at least 5 years from the end of the year in which the payment deadline fell.
If you are using the residential property relief, you must reside in the acquired property and live there for 5 years. Register your address at the new property.
More informationIf you have not done so yet — file an application for a declaration of acquisition of inheritance at the district court or visit a notary for a deed of inheritance confirmation.
If you inherited real estate, file an application to enter the new owner in the land and mortgage register (księga wieczysta) at the land register court.
More information