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How can IP Box Tax Relief benefit software houses and independent developers?

Author Jakub Olech Managing Partner
3 min read 2020-02-17
If you're employed in the software industry, you're likely familiar with the special IP Box tax relief introduced last year. Despite its availability, confusion and uncertainties persist regarding the advantageous 5% income tax rate for creators of intellectual property. What precisely does the IP Box relief entail, and who is it designed for? Here's our interpretation of these new regulations.

R&D and IP qualification

The IP Box relief, which offers a reduced tax rate of only 5%, is available for inclusion in the annual tax return by individuals subject to Personal Income Tax (PIT) and entities filing a Corporate Income Tax (CIT) return.


The primary criterion for eligibility is engaging in business activities classified as research and development (R&D). These activities must:


An additional condition of the IP Box relief is the creation of qualified intellectual property rights (qualified IP) due to research and development activities. Qualified IP encompasses patents, the right to register an integrated circuit's topography, and copyrights in computer programs. To qualify for this tax relief, it's also necessary to maintain separate, detailed records that track the costs, revenues, and income or losses associated with the production of each piece of qualified IP.

When do programmers benefit from the IP Box?

Programmers who meet the formal requirements specified in the legislation are eligible for the 5% tax rate under the IP Box, regardless of their business structure. This tax relief applies to entrepreneurs, software house companies, partnerships, sole traders, and freelance programmers. Programmers qualify for the IP Box relief, particularly when they sell or license the software they have developed. However, the software must be the outcome of research and development (R&D) efforts to be eligible for the lower tax rate. Consequently, the relief does not extend to routine programming tasks, debugging, or creating straightforward applications or programs using familiar programming languages. Activities that qualify as R&D for programmers involve:

Selling the results of such work and maintaining appropriate records allows programmers to take advantage of the IP Box relief on their annual tax returns.


Individual tax interpretation is advisable!

The applicability of the IP Box relief for software houses and independent programmers often sparks debate, primarily due to the broad definition of R&D activities, the absence of a comprehensive explanation of "copyright in a computer program" within Polish law, and potential variances in interpretation. To ensure eligibility for the IP Box relief, seeking an individual interpretation from the Director of the National Fiscal Information (KIS) is recommended. The interpretations suggest that the relief is readily accessible for entities developing new technologies and writing software. Nonetheless, the lengthy process prevents many software companies and freelancers from pursuing such applications. Meanwhile, obtaining an individual interpretation and, if necessary, amending tax returns is considered more prudent than risking the unauthorized use of the IP Box relief. Engaging a tax adviser, known for their expertise and taxpayer-friendly approach, can help navigate the process and avoid unnecessary disputes with tax authorities. After considerable deliberation, this approach is deemed the safest by those who have adopted it.

Jakub Olech
Managing Partner
Kuba combines econometrics and information technology expertise with a keen interest in business analysis and statistics. His analytical skills contribute significantly to strategic decision-making.
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