Searching for Order in the Polish Local Tax System

Abstract

The article contributes to the academic discussion about the necessity to reform the Polish local tax system. Local taxes are usually treated as the most important part of the municipalities’ incomes and an indicator of their potential to generate profits. Yet, the analysis conducted in the first part of the article leaves no doubt that these taxes are not always a sufficiently stable source of municipalities’ income. For this reason the second part outlines key elements of the income tax reform. It states that one of the most crucial points – especially for appropriate relations between a tax payer and public authorities – is to correctly legitimize property taxation.