The importance of municipal tax policy in shaping forest tax revenues in Poland

Abstract

Motivation: The subject of interest presented in this study is the problem of forest tax and the respective municipal revenues in the context of the principle of financial independence. It is manifested in the ability of implementing own tax policy, i.e. exerting purposeful influence on the structural elements of taxes by the local authorities aimed at using their functions in an optimal manner. Forest tax as a typical local tax may contribute towards implementing this principle in practice. Aim: The study presents the legal structure of forest tax, primarily in the context of the powers granted to municipalities in terms of fiscal power. The main objective of the study is to assess the impact of tax policy implemented by municipalities on the amount and importance of forest tax revenues in the financing structure. Results: Comparing to other revenue categories, the fiscal efficiency of tax and its importance in the municipal financing structure remain small (approx. 0.15\% of total revenues) and they depend directly on the tax base. It is a derivative of the forest area being the tax base and the structure considered in terms of statutory exemptions and the method of determining the tax rate. Municipal tax policy regarding the forest tax is characterised by a very small activity. A more liberal tax policy is usually associated with a lower tax importance in a municipality, which demonstrates its fiscal stance. Generally, this policy has a marginal impact on the importance of forest tax in the structure of municipal finance.