Countries worldwide adopt a more lenient stance on pensions, but Poland goes in the opposite direction.
The Polish government is set to introduce a new pension system called Osobiste Konto Inwestycyjne (OKI), a personal investment account. This account, aimed at encouraging tax-free investing, is expected to launch around 2026 [3].
Key features of the OKI account include eligibility and voluntariness, investment limits, and tax implications. The account is voluntary and available to individual investors who wish to invest with certain tax benefits [1][3]. Investors can hold up to 100,000 PLN in investments and save up to 25,000 PLN without paying the "Belka tax" (Polish capital gains tax) [3]. Investment amounts within these limits are exempt from capital gains tax, while a low asset tax ranging from 0.8% to 0.9% annually applies to amounts exceeding these limits [1][3].
In contrast, the Dutch pension system does not appear to be moving away from the intergenerational contract, unlike Poland and Germany. The motto in the Netherlands is "The longer one lives, the longer one can work," and the retirement age is linked to life expectancy [4]. The retirement benefit period is extended by one year for each additional three years of life expectancy, and the retirement age is adjusted accordingly [4].
Other European countries, including Poland, are grappling with their pension systems due to demographic shifts. Poland, for instance, is implementing a new pension system that focuses on personal responsibility and the capital market. However, the details of how the capital market focus will be executed in the new system are not specified [4].
As for the Netherlands, there is no clear evidence that the country is adopting the OKI approach verbatim. The search results do not show any direct information about the Netherlands implementing a system like Poland's OKI or details on upcoming Dutch pension investment changes [1][2][3]. The Dutch pension system is well-developed, but specific recent adjustments or the adoption of similar tax-free voluntary investment accounts analogous to OKI were not found in the available sources.
Meanwhile, other news outlets such as Merkur have reported on the details of the new pension system in Poland. The system is designed to provide financial security for an aging society and help citizens build wealth for retirement [5]. A new book titled 'Getting money back from the state - Tax return for retirees and pensioners 2024/2025' has also been published [6].
In conclusion, Poland’s OKI is a new voluntary tax-advantaged personal investment account launching around 2026 with defined tax-exempt limits and a small surtax above those limits. Meanwhile, the Dutch pension system maintains its intergenerational contract and focuses on extending the retirement age according to life expectancy. Other countries are also exploring new paths for their pension systems, with details varying by country.
Businesses and individuals in Poland can look forward to the introduction of Osobiste Konto Inwestycyjne (OKI), a new personal investment account designed for tax-free investing. This account offers a unique opportunity for personal-finance management, as investors can hold up to 100,000 PLN in investments and save up to 25,000 PLN without paying the "Belka tax" (Polish capital gains tax), with investment amounts within these limits being exempt from capital gains tax.
