Polish tax offices and government administration to close on 14 August as civil servants get substitute holiday for Saturday 15 August
On Friday 14 August 2026, all Polish tax offices and much of the government administration will close as more than 120,000 civil servants take a substitute day off for the 15 August holiday, which falls on a Saturday this year.
Holiday falling on Saturday
This year the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Polish Armed Forces Day, both observed on 15 August, fall on a Saturday. Under Article 130 § 2 of the Polish Labor Code, every statutory holiday that falls on a day other than Sunday reduces the working-time norm by 8 hours, meaning employees are entitled to a substitute day off. Prime Minister Donald Tusk signed Order No. 2 on 5 January 2026, designating Friday 14 August 2026 as that substitute day for members of the civil service corps. The same order sets Monday 28 December 2026 as the substitute for the Second Day of Christmas, which falls on Saturday 26 December.
Who gets the day off
The order covers more than 120,000 civil service employees across Poland. The civil service corps includes staff at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister (KPRM), ministries, central government organs, provincial offices (urzędy wojewódzkie), the National Tax Information service and tax administration chambers, as well as commands, inspectorates and other organisational units of the police, border guard and forestry administration. For this group, 14 August will be a fixed day off, creating a three-day weekend from Friday 14 August through Sunday 16 August without needing to use annual leave.
- PM Tusk issues Order No. 2 designating substitute days off for civil service corps
- Friday: designated day off for civil servants, tax offices and government administration closed
- Saturday: Assumption of Mary and Polish Armed Forces Day (statutory holiday)
- Sunday: regular non-working day, completing a three-day weekend for civil servants
- Saturday: Second Day of Christmas (statutory holiday falling on Saturday)
- Monday: designated day off for civil servants as substitute for December 26 holiday
Tax offices closed
The National Tax Administration (KAS) announced that all tax offices (urzędy skarbowe) and tax administration chambers (izby administracji skarbowej) will be closed on 14 August 2026. KAS encouraged taxpayers to use the eUrząd Skarbowy online portal for most matters and to schedule any necessary in-person visits through the "Umów wizytę" service on podatki.gov.pl or in the eUS system. The closure follows directly from the prime minister's order, which applies to government administration units including tax offices.
Private-sector rules differ
Workers in private firms are also entitled to a substitute day off when a holiday falls on a Saturday, under the same Article 130 § 2 of the Labor Code. The difference is that private employers, not the prime minister, choose the date within the given settlement period (usually monthly). The employer is not obliged to set the day off on 14 August or 17 August; it can be any date within the settlement period. Employees may request a different date, but the final decision rests with the employer. If an employer fails to designate a substitute day, the employee's work on that day counts as overtime and must be compensated. Employees on sick leave or maternity leave on the holiday are not entitled to a substitute day.
December mirror
A similar situation arises at the end of the year. Christmas Eve falls on Thursday 24 December, the First Day of Christmas on Friday 25 December, and the Second Day of Christmas on Saturday 26 December. Under the same order, civil servants will receive Monday 28 December 2026 as a substitute day off for the 26 December holiday. The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage is also reported to be working on changes to the 15 August and 2 May holiday arrangements, though no specifics were provided in the sources.
