Leverage is a tool by which an investor increases the chance of gaining profits in the short term, using foreign capital. The potential profits are sizable especially when compared to the capital outlay required for such an operation. The investor obtains external financing by which he reduces his own costs. The financing entity may be a bank granting the loan. The interest on the loan will be treated as an expense, which is an opportunity to reduce the tax burden on the income from the operation. Here it should be noted that, like any market activity, the use of leverage involves some risk. Failure will involve repayment of financing and, in the case of a bank, also high interest rates. In short, leverage is investing with borrowed money. Profits versus losses can be calculated in a simple way. The amount that the investor lays out of his own funds is at the same time collateral for the entire investment. It can be 100 or 1000 PLN; the financing entity determines the level of leverage – in Poland it is a maximum of 100:1. Using such a conversion rate, an investor who actually has PLN 100 can invest PLN 10,000. If the investment goes well, the costs that the investor will incur will be the return of the borrowed amount plus interest. The change in the instrument that was purchased by the investor is done not in relation to his equity, but to the total amount based on leverage. A change of 1% in the wrong direction in the example above will result in the loss of the security amount and the discontinuation of the investment. Larger changes will result in additional losses for the investor. It is possible to protect against such a situation with a broker who finances investments. Negative balance protection guarantees that after a loss in the amount of the invested own amount, the position will close automatically and the investor will not be left with a debit.
ENTRY TO THE REGISTER – What is the legal basis for the operation of the register of activities in the field of virtual currencies?
The register of virtual currency activities operates under:
The Act of March 1, 2018 on anti-money laundering and preventing financing of terrorism (Journal of Laws of 2021, item 1132, as amended),
The Act of March 6, 2018 – Entrepreneurs’ Law (Journal of Laws of 2021, item 162 as amended).
When will I be able to start doing virtual currency business?
You can start your virtual currency business after obtaining an entry in the Register of virtual currency activities, in accordance with the provision of Article 129m of the Law on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism:
Business activities involving the provision of services referred to in Article 2, paragraph 1, item 12, hereinafter referred to as “virtual currency business,” are considered regulated business within the meaning of the provisions of the Law of March 6, 2018 – Entrepreneurs’ Law and may be performed after obtaining an entry in the register of virtual currency activities.
On June 28, 2022, the Polish Ministry of Finance sent for arrangements and consultations public projects, another amendment to the so-called Polish Order (group of tax legal acts), this time in the field of Corporate Income Tax in Poland.
Most of the proposed changes are to come into force on 01/01/2023. The draft provides, among others, the following solutions:
– Modification and postponement of the entry into force of the provisions on the minimum income tax,
On 14 July 2022 KIELTYKA GLADKOWSKI KG LEGAL took part in the webinar organised by The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The webinar covered the topic of critical materials for energy transitioning, particularly focusing on deep-sea mining.
The loan agreement, the subject of which are cryptocurrencies classified as property rights, is not subject to tax on civil law transactions – as was confirmed by the director of the Polish National Tax Information.
The question was asked by the entity considering taking such a loan from an individual or entrepreneur. The enquiring entity explained that the subject of the contract will be a specific amount of cryptocurrency, and the return will be made after the time specified in it. The enquiring entity wanted to make sure that it would not have to pay tax on civil law transactions on such a loan.
