Abstract:

 The quality of information provided by fiscal authorities and the correct flow of this information between them and the public are very important in a democratic state especially in times of crisis when there are unsustainable public finance and rising public debt. Ensuring fiscal transparency (transparency of public finance) reduces fiscal risks and corruption and promotes public acceptance of fiscal reforms.

The aim of the article is to assess the transparency of public finance in Poland in the era of COVID-19 pandemic. Changes in the system of public finance, which cause an increase in the opacity of public finance, were analysed. It also recommends necessary actions to be taken in order to increase transparency of public finance.

Poland lacks a transparent message about public finance with a particular focus on the state budget, which would allow citizens to control the government's fiscal policy actions. A number of solutions were introduced in 2020, which resulted in a significant part of public expenditure being made outside the control of the parliament, with a significant source of their financing being the issuance of debt securities issued by the State Treasury, or guaranteed by the State Treasury. It is difficult to make a reliable assessment of the state of public finance due to the differences in the methodology of calculating the level of deficit and debt of the public sector in terms of national and EU legal regulations.