Błażej Sarzalski

attorney-at-law

Attorney, registered in the Regional Bar in Katowice, CEO at Sarzalski Consulting Sp. z o.o., an expert in a field of formation of commercial companies, corporate law, promissory notes and litigation.
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What is a PESEL number and why do you need it to run your company in Poland?

Błażej Sarzalski07 September 2020Komentarze (0)

PESEL Number in Poland: A Comprehensive Guide

In Poland, the PESEL (Powszechny Elektroniczny System Ewidencji Ludności, or Universal Electronic System for Registration of the Population) number plays a crucial role in the identification and administration of individuals within the country. This comprehensive guide delves into the intricacies of the PESEL number, exploring its significance, the necessity for Polish company management, and the process of obtaining it, especially for foreigners residing in Poland.

Understanding the PESEL Number

What is PESEL?

The PESEL number is Poland’s national identification system, designed to uniquely identify individuals within the country. It is an 11-digit number, with each digit serving a specific purpose, reflecting the person’s birth date, gender, and other personal information, followed by a unique control number ensuring its authenticity. This system, instituted to streamline government and private sector operations involving identity verification, is integral to the daily administrative functions within Poland.

Significance of PESEL in Daily Life

The PESEL number is more than just a series of digits; it’s a key that unlocks various aspects of everyday life in Poland. From healthcare access and banking services to educational enrollments and voting, the PESEL number is an essential requirement. Its role extends beyond basic identification; it facilitates efficient and secure transactions, ensuring that personal data is accurately linked and accessible to authorized entities.

PESEL for Polish Company Management

Why PESEL is a Must for Businesses

Since the end of 2019, Polish law mandates that every company register in the Central Registry for Beneficiary Owners. This registration is critical to comply with legal requirements and avoid potential fines. The registration process demands electronic submissions, where the EPUAP (electronic trusted profile) stands out as the most popular and cost-effective e-signature option.

EPUAP and PESEL: The Connection

To obtain an EPUAP, essential for signing financial statements and making amendments in the National Court Registry, a PESEL number is indispensable. This necessity underscores the PESEL’s importance not just for individuals but also for the seamless operation of businesses within Poland. Without a PESEL, managing a company’s administrative tasks becomes significantly more challenging.

Acquiring a PESEL Number

For Foreigners Living in Poland

The process of obtaining a PESEL number is straightforward for foreigners who have registered their residence in Poland, as it is automatically assigned. This facilitates their integration into the Polish system, granting them access to services and fulfilling administrative requirements with ease.

When You Can’t Register Your Residence

For those unable to register their residence, whether due to specific circumstances or regulatory hurdles, there remains a pathway to obtain a PESEL. This involves submitting an application independently or through attorney services, ensuring that even without a registered residence, individuals can comply with Polish regulations and participate fully in societal functions.

Conclusion

The PESEL number is a cornerstone of identification and administrative processes in Poland, serving as a vital component for both individuals and companies. Understanding its significance and the procedures for obtaining it, especially for foreigners residing in Poland, is essential for seamless integration and compliance with Polish laws. Whether for accessing services, fulfilling legal obligations, or managing a company, the PESEL number stands as a testament to Poland’s commitment to efficient and secure data management.

These are the best Polish cities to start a business in

Błażej Sarzalski25 July 2016Komentarze (2)

If you ask yourself where to set up your business in Poland I have some good choices for you. Just check.

Warsaw (Warszawa)

Warsaw, the capital of Poland is also a capital of Polish business. With its 1,7 million inhabitants it is the largest city in Poland and well renown business center of Eastern Europe. You will find here well estabilished middle class with enough money to buy your strangest ideas. Warsaw produces 12% of Poland’s national income In 2012 the Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Warsaw as the 32nd most liveable city in the world. It was also ranked as one of the most liveable cities in Central Europe. If you run your business on a massive scale then this is city should be your first choice. Warsaw is easy accessible by air (two international airports), train (direct trains from Berlin/Vienna) and roads (A2 highway from Poznań and Berlin, A1 highway from Gdansk, S8 road from Katowice, Wrocław).

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Katowice

Katowice, the largest city in Silesia district is a center of 4 million people conurbation. During communist times it was important center of coal mining industry, the city is still characterized by its working class strength and attracts many people from neighbouring cities. As for now Katowice is trying to choose its new path as vivid cultural center, a place where you can go to a museum, gallery or theater but also enjoy nightlife and outdoor activities. Upper Silesia has the best road system in Poland, it is also very well connected with other major Polish cities and neighbouring countries with Katowice Airport being constantly modernised in order to meet the highest standards with the longest runway in Poland up to date. It has also very unusual sight in its city center for this place in Europe: date palms around the main market. Best place for logistic centers and heavy industry.  The unemployment rate is one of the lowest in Poland, at 2%. The city is still characterized by its working class strength and attracts many people from neighbouring cities.

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Cracow (Kraków)

Kraków, former Polish capital, placed 60 km east of Katowice is thriving multicultural city famous for its medieval architecture, thousand of restaurants, bars and shops and Jewish Culture Festival that has its place here every summer. You will find monumental churches, old synagogues and even one small mosque. Place worth to choose for all enterprises connected with science, computers, tourism, music, culture or food. It is also well communicated with neighbouring major cities and has international airport. ily. There are about 50 large multinational companies in the city, including Google, IBM, Royal Dutch Shell along with other British, German and Scandinavian-based firms.

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Poznań

When I first came to Poznań, during my studies I was amazed by the atmosphere of the city. Today Poznań is a mixture of its rich history and modern solutions, easily accessible from air nad ground it is a good base for all businesses wishing to commence trade with Germany.  Poznań had very low unemployment rate (about 2-3%). Many Western European companies have established their Polish headquarters in Poznań or in the nearby towns of Tarnowo Podgórne and Swarzędz. Most foreign investors are German and Dutch companies.

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Breslau (Wrocław)

Old German city of Wrocław have not lost its character under Polish rule. Another place where history meets modern era. Center of science and culture. It is also statistically the warmest major city in Poland. Wrocław’s industry manufactures buses, trams, railroad cars, home appliances, chemicals, and electronics. The city houses factories and development centers of many foreign and domestic corporations. It is major center of pharmaceutical industry.

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Tricity (Trójmiasto)

A metropolitan area in northern Poland consisting of three cities in Pomerania: Gdańsk, Gdynia and Sopot, as well as minor towns nearby them. They are situated adjacent to one other, in a row on the coast of  Baltic Sea. Nearly 35% taxpayers from Tricity are in the middle and high taxable income groups (average for Poland 10%). Approximately 12% of Tricity taxpayers are in highest taxable income group (Polish average 3%). Center of tourism and ship industry.

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5 reasons why you should consider LLC in Poland

Błażej Sarzalski02 September 2015Komentarze (0)

There are many reasons to use a Limited Liability Company (LLC)  in Poland for your startup, and here are five of the best:

  1. Flat corporate tax rate. Altough Polish often complain on level of taxation in our country the fact is that effective corporate tax rate is below European and even world average. We have 19% flat corporate income tax (CIT) in Poland, whilst the effective taxation equals something about 17,5% (scientific source is here). Foreign corporations often use effective tax planning strategies to optimise taxes or transfer some of their profits abroad.
  2. 38,5 million people. Poland is one of the biggest markets in Europe. It is sixth biggest EU country by population and seventh in terms of territory. You will have plenty of customers, for sure!
  3. Stable economic growth. Even in times of world financial crisis Poland maintainted its stable economic growth which is one of the biggest in European Union (source is here).
  4. Membership in European Union. You will have access to whole Eurpean market as Poland is part of European Union and Polish companies enjoy freedom of trade and enterprise in whole EU. You will not have to pay any customs for sales to the other member states.
  5. Friendly and well educated people. If you come to Poland you will experience friendliness of Polish people and you will discover that many of them (about 34%)  are able to hold conversation in English (okey, it is not the Netherlands where almost whole population speaks English, but still better than Slovakia – 26%, Czech Republic – 27%,  Bulgaria – 25% or Spain – 22%) – not bad for former Soviet block country. Source is here.

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