The capital is helping restaurateurs again

Warsaw councilors adopted a resolution today to postpone the payment deadline for the third installment for the use of permits for the sale and serving of alcoholic beverages in catering establishments in 2021. The deadline has been postponed from September 30 to December 31, 2021.

This is another stage of support for catering industry entrepreneurs operating in the Capital City of Warsaw. In the spring of this year, the Warsaw City Council exempted catering businesses from paying the second installment for using permits in 2021, and those who paid a one-off fee by January 31, 2021, were granted a refund of 1/3 of the fee paid. These actions covered 2,267 entrepreneurs, and the total amount of the refund was over PLN 2.5 million (PLN 2,506,250.59 to be exact).

“The catering industry has had a very difficult time, which is why we are using all possible means to help these entrepreneurs. INWe have already implemented a package containing various forms of economic support, including rent reductions for municipal commercial premises, reductions in property lease fees, discounts for using catering gardens, and deferrals and reliefs in local and tax fees. We have also launched advisory support programs for small and medium-sized businesses during the pandemic. Our information point at the Smolna Entrepreneurship Center is constantly operating – says Karolina Zdrodowska, Coordinating Director for Entrepreneurship and Social Dialogue.

The ban on running a restaurant business was in force for almost five months last year.

The resolutions of the Warsaw Council are permitted by the amendment to the Act "On special solutions related to the prevention, counteracting and combating of COVID-19, other infectious diseases and crisis situations caused by them" introduced in January.

Alcohol sales fees

Entrepreneurs submit a written declaration of the value of sales of individual types of alcoholic beverages in the previous year by the end of January. The fee may be paid in one payment for the entire year or in three equal installments. Fees for permits to sell alcoholic beverages depend on the percentage content and value of turnover throughout the year. The fee for using permits to sell alcoholic beverages with up to 4.5 percent alcohol content and beer is PLN 525; if the value of sales in the previous year exceeds PLN 37,500, the fee is paid at 1.4 percent of the total value of sales. The same rates apply for permits to sell alcohol above 4.5 percent to 18 percent alcohol content (except beer). The fee for using permits to sell alcoholic beverages with over 18 percent alcohol content is PLN 2,100, and if the value of sales in the previous year exceeds PLN 77,000, the fee is paid at 2.7 percent of the total value of sales.

Source: Warsaw City Hall