Czechs Are Heading Back to Poland for Cheap Fuel as Poland Temporarily Cuts Fuel Tax

Since August 17, Polish authorities have temporarily lowered value-added tax on petrol, diesel and some biofuels from 23 to 8 percent. As a result, prices at petrol stations near the Czech-Polish border have dropped noticeably below those in Czechia, and residents of border regions are once again flocking to Poland to fill up their tanks.

Among those who visited a petrol station in the Polish town of Chałupki, right on the border with Czechia, on Saturday was a young family from Ostrava. "Colleagues at work told us about it — everyone's going there to fill up now. So we decided to try it too. We're heading to the market for fruit and vegetables anyway, so we figured we'd grab some petrol while we're at it," said Radek Marek from Ostrava.

He said that at the petrol station in Ostrava where he usually fills up, petrol cost 42.90 crowns per liter on Saturday. "I also stopped by the station in Antošovice, right before the border. Petrol there was cheaper than in Ostrava today — 41.90 crowns. But here in Poland, it's just 36.90," he added.

Savings Go Beyond Petrol

Other drivers interviewed on Saturday also praised Polish prices. "It's less than 20 kilometers for me. I always combine the trip with shopping or a walk, and it's job done," said 68-year-old Jiří Petršina. He drives to Chałupki not only for petrol but also for LPG. "See for yourself — gas here is 16 crowns today. Back home it's almost 22 crowns — that adds up noticeably over a full tank," he explained.

Diesel in Chałupki was also significantly cheaper than nearby in Czechia on Saturday, priced at 40.53 crowns per liter. In Ostrava, diesel prices hovered around 44.40 crowns, while the station in Antošovice charged as much as 45.50 crowns. The price gap is also influenced by the crown's strengthening against the zloty — on Saturday, the exchange rate stood at 5.56 zloty per crown.

How Long Will the Discount Last?

It's still unclear how long the reduced tax rate will remain in effect — it's possible the measure could expire as early as September 1. This marks the second time this year that the Polish government has intervened in fuel pricing: the first round of cuts ran from April through the end of June.

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Source: novinky.cz