Default interests – compensation or sanction? Critics on the example of Article 86 (10i) of VAT Act 2004

Abstract

sanction. Throughout their evolution the default interests were subordinated to one or the other function. Although the concept of default interests derives from the idea of compensation, nowadays in Poland they are used for punitive reasons – Article 86 (10i) of VAT Act 2004 provides an example. For comparison – in Italy the default interests are treated as a tool for compensation whereas there are other tools (tax penalties properly so-called) applied for punitive purposes. Assigning both these functions to the default interests results in serious interpretative doubts – e.g. questions about the conformity of Article 86 (10i) of VAT Act 2004 with VAT Directive 2006/112. Treating the default interests not only as a mere compensation tool but also as a sanction is a pathology which decreases the trust of taxpayers in the Polish tax system.