A foreign broker and PIT settlement in Poland
Definition
An explanation of one practical difference between a Polish brokerage house and a foreign broker: who prepares the tax settlement on your gains — and what that means for you if you file taxes in Poland.
What it means in practice
- Polish brokerage house → PIT-8C. A Polish broker usually issues a PIT-8C form summarising your transactions, which makes the annual settlement of Belka tax (19%) much easier.
- Foreign broker → file it yourself. A foreign broker (e.g. Estonian, Irish, German) usually does not issue a PIT-8C. If you are a Polish tax resident, you are obliged to determine and report the gain yourself in your annual return — often converting transactions into złoty at the correct rates. That is more work and a greater risk of error.
- No IKE/IKZE. Foreign brokers usually do not offer Polish IKE/IKZE accounts — tax wrappers are available mainly at Polish brokerage houses.
- Tax residence decides. Where and how you settle depends on your tax residence and double-taxation treaties — especially important for migrants with income in several countries.
Why it affects your choice
A lower commission at a foreign broker can be tempting, but the cost of settlement (time, risk of error, no PIT-8C and no IKE/IKZE) is a real part of the picture. That is why we show it explicitly, not just the commission.
How to check this in our comparison
The "Settlement / PIT" and "IKE / IKZE accounts" fields for each broker in the Investing lens, with source and date.
Watch out
How you settle and your obligations depend on your individual situation (residence, sources of income, international treaties). Confirm with a tax adviser before choosing a foreign broker.
We do not give tax advice. Obligations depend on your residence and situation — confirm with an adviser or the tax office. WTP Finance is for information only.