The Polish Chamber of Marine Industry and Offshore (PIMEW) has submitted a formal position calling for a personal income tax (PIT) exemption for seafarers working aboard offshore wind installations, cable-laying ships, research vessels and service operation vessels in Polish waters. The submission responds to Bill UD 2549, currently at the drafting stage.
PIMEW argues that Poland’s current tax regime creates a structural competitive disadvantage for domestic seafarers. Under Polish law, offshore workers face a 41% PIT rate, compared with 0% in Denmark and Belgium, 5% in France, and 12% in the Netherlands — all countries with significant offshore wind sectors.
The chamber’s position calls for an amendment that would introduce a blanket PIT exemption for income earned on vessels engaged in offshore wind operations in Polish waters, bringing the framework in line with practices elsewhere in Europe. PIMEW warns that without the change, Poland risks being unable to staff its growing Baltic Sea offshore wind programme with domestic maritime workers.
