Interpretation Problems Relating the Scope of Meaning of the Term “Person Single-Handedly Raising Child” in the Polish Law

Abstract

Until the end of 2021, in accordance with the Act on Personal Income Tax (PIT Act), persons single-handedly raising children benefited from joint taxation with a child, while as of the beginning of 2022, they are entitled to the tax relief of PLN 1500. After growing criticism of the recent amendment to the act, our government decided to return to the former legal status. The aforementioned tax advantage, while being of great practical importance, raised and will continue to raise several doubts after the amendment. One of the most important issues is the precise definition of who is a “single parent” – whether this criterion is met when a child lives with one parent, but contacts the other parent and spends time with him or her occasionally, or when divorced parents have joint custody of a child. The Polish Deal (Polski Ład) partially addresses these doubts, but obviously does not dispel all of them.