Starting from January 2026, increased excise tax rates on cigarettes, alcohol, and other tobacco products will come into effect in Poland. The changes are outlined in the state budget law passed by the Polish parliament and are part of a long-term strategy for gradually increasing excise duties on excise goods. This is reported by InPoland.
Increase in excise duties in Poland from 2026: what will become more expensive
According to the Ministry of Finance of Poland, as of January 1, 2026, excise tax rates will increase for most tobacco products and their substitutes:
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cigarettes — by 20%
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smoking tobacco — by 30%
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innovative tobacco products — by 20%
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cigars and cigarillos — by 20%
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liquid for electronic cigarettes — by 50%.
In monetary terms, the excise rate on cigarettes will be 414 zlotys per 1000 pieces, on smoking tobacco — 338.18 zlotys per kilogram. For cigars and cigarillos, it will rise to 786 zlotys per kilogram, and for electronic cigarette liquid — to 1.44 zlotys per milliliter.
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Cigarette prices in Poland in 2026: Finance Ministry forecast
The Ministry of Finance predicts that the average price of a pack of cigarettes in 2026 will reach 23.85 zlotys. The department notes that excise is one of the key sources of budget revenue: it is expected that revenue from it in 2026 will amount to 103.3 billion zlotys.
The increase in rates serves not only a fiscal purpose, but is also aimed at reducing the consumption of tobacco products and their substitutes, especially among youth. It is also anticipated that prices in Poland will gradually approach average levels in European Union countries where tobacco products are more expensive.
Let us remind you that the meteorological balloons from Belarus that entered Poland on the night before Christmas resulted in the discovery of several thousand packs of cigarettes. According to reports, about 60 meteorological balloons with contraband cargo entered the airspace of Poland on December 25.