In general it can be said that perspectives for the leasing market in Poland are quite promising. The country’s membership in the European Union will help Polish companies to meet western European manufacturing standards while adding substantially to their list of clients. One precondition for this, however, is rejuvenated European markets. After all, they are the primary importers of Polish products.

Leasing services have been offered in Poland since 1991. The rapid growth of small and medium-sized businesses helped to maintain an annual leasing market growth rate up to 1991 of between 20 and 50 percent. The increase in leased vehicles – cars and lorries – was the primary impetus for growth. For years now the second most important growth sector has been for industrial machines and systems. Here older technology has been consistently exchanged for newer technology in order to close the gap with western European competition.

As the leasing of IT technology and office equipment diminishes in importance, in the coming year experts expect a significant increase in automobile investments. After all, there is still a great need for Polish companies to renew their car fleets.

Leasing in Poland has been legal since December 09, 2000 when the Common Book of Laws was amended for this purpose (Title XVII Leasing Contract Art. 7091 - 70918 KC.), the Corporation Tax Law (October 01, 2001) and the Accounting Law (January 01, 2002) have also been changed accordingly.

Both operating leasing and finance leasing are offered. Although it should be noted that there are two different versions of operating leasing in Poland: as conventional operating leasing (the leasing provider writes off the cost in his tax and accounting records) and as a leasing variation for financing purposes (the leasing provider writes off the expense on his tax records, and the lessee writes off the expense on his profit and loss record).

Finance leasing contracts (where activation and write-offs are performed by the lessee) are lease-purchase agreements. In this case ownership of the object is transferred to the lessee at the end of the contract.