An incubator for translators
Written translation and interpreting on a B2B basis — without a sole proprietorship (JDG), without ZUS, without red tape
How does the FDK incubator work for a translator?
A translator's work is most often a mosaic of assignments — projects for translation agencies, direct orders from corporate clients, sworn translations, conference work. Registering a sole proprietorship (JDG) with the 15% lump-sum tax (PKWiU 74.30 for written translations) plus compulsory ZUS contributions of more than 1 825 zł a month is a fixed burden that grows regardless of how many assignments you have in a given month.
The FDK incubator works differently: the translator joins the Foundation and operates under its legal personality. FDK issues B2B invoices to your clients — translation agencies, companies, public institutions, foreign clients. You receive your remuneration less just 6% PIT and a monthly subscription of 400 zł. No ZUS. No accounting of your own. No CEIDG registration. (It is worth noting that this option is intended exclusively for specialist translations. Other translations are settled on the basis of a contract of mandate, with the deduction of the PIT due and ZUS contributions.)
The solution is particularly advantageous for translators who work project by project: in months with fewer assignments your only fixed cost is the subscription. No minimum ZUS, no tax on income you have not earned. CAT tools (Trados, memoQ, Phrase) work exactly the same way — the only difference is who issues the invoices and on what tax terms.
Benefits for translators in the FDK incubator
No ZUS — a saving of 1 825 zł/month
You pay neither social nor health insurance contributions to ZUS. This is especially noticeable with irregular assignments and during holiday seasons.
6% PIT instead of a 15% lump sum
Written translations (PKWiU 74.30) in a sole proprietorship (JDG) are subject to a 15% lump-sum tax. At FDK you pay a flat 6% PIT — whatever the type of translation.
Invoices for agencies and clients
FDK issues VAT invoices on your behalf — to translation agencies, corporations, public offices and foreign clients. One subscription, any number of invoices.
Get started in 15 minutes
No registration with CEIDG or ZUS. You sign an agreement with the Foundation and can start issuing invoices straight away — using FDK's NIP and REGON numbers.
Foreign clients without VAT OSS
We handle invoices in EUR, USD and other currencies. We apply the reverse charge for contractors from the EU — with no need to register for VAT abroad.
Legal and copyright support
Help with agreements on copyright in translations, assignments of rights and licence agreements — for literary translations, localisation and sworn translations.
How we work together — 4 steps
From first contact to issuing your first invoice to an agency or a direct client — usually 2–3 working days.
Contact
Describe your translation work — language pairs, specialisations, the kind of clients you have (agencies, corporations, private clients). We will answer every question.
Consultation
A free conversation about the settlement model. We will discuss the PKWiU code appropriate for your services, how to invoice agencies and foreign clients, and copyright questions.
Agreement
You sign an agreement with the Foundation. You gain access to FDK's NIP and REGON numbers — your clients and agencies issue invoices to FDK, and you can start work immediately.
Start
A comparison of settlement forms for translators
An example for revenue of 8 000 zł/month (written translations, PKWiU 74.30 — 15% lump sum)
| Item | Employment contract (UoP) |
JDG lump sum (15% — PKWiU 74.30) |
JDG lump sum (8.5% — PKWiU 85.59*) |
FDK (incubator) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross revenue | 8 000 zł | 8 000 zł | 8 000 zł | 8 000 zł |
| ZUS (social contributions) | ~1 100 zł (the employer pays 2x more on top) |
1 825 zł | 1 825 zł | 0 zł |
| Health contribution | ~720 zł | ~556 zł | ~556 zł | 0 zł |
| Income tax | ~600 zł (12% after reliefs) |
1 200 zł (15% lump sum) |
680 zł (8.5% lump sum) |
480 zł (6% PIT) |
| Accounting / subscription | — | ~400 zł | ~400 zł | 400 zł |
| Total costs | ~2 420 zł | ~3 981 zł | ~3 461 zł | 880 zł |
| Take-home pay (net) | ~5 580 zł (total employer cost ~11 000 zł) |
~4 019 zł | ~4 539 zł | ~7 120 zł |
* PKWiU 85.59 (educational services, including conference interpreting and other interpreting treated as a training service) — lump-sum rate of 8.5%. PKWiU 74.30 (written, sworn and technical translations, localisation) — lump-sum rate of 15%. At FDK both categories are settled in the same way — 6% PIT with no ZUS.
Calculator: JDG vs FDK
Move the slider and check your savings
JDG lump sum 15%
FDK incubator
* The calculator compares FDK with a sole proprietorship (JDG) on the 15% lump sum (PKWiU 74.30). Actual savings depend on your individual situation. Full calculator on the home page.
Why is FDK the ideal solution for a translator?
Written translation — PKWiU 74.30
Technical, legal, medical, financial and literary translation, as well as the localisation of software or video games, is classified under PKWiU 74.30. In a sole proprietorship (JDG) this is the highest lump-sum rate for the liberal professions — 15%. With revenue of 8 000 zł a month that is 1 200 zł in income tax alone, plus ZUS of 1 825 zł and a health contribution of around 556 zł. In total, more than 3 981 zł goes before you ever see the money in your account. At FDK you pay 880 zł instead of 3 981 zł.
Interpreting and conference work — PKWiU 85.59
Conference, consecutive and simultaneous interpreting may be classified as educational services (PKWiU 85.59), which in a sole proprietorship (JDG) reduces the lump sum to 8.5%. That is a better option than 15%, but it is still far more expensive than the FDK incubator — where, whatever the type of interpreting or written translation, you pay a flat 6% PIT with no ZUS. If you combine both types of service, at FDK you have one single settlement model.
CAT tools — Trados, memoQ, Phrase
Working with professional CAT (Computer-Assisted Translation) tools such as SDL Trados Studio, memoQ, Phrase (formerly Memsource), Wordfast or Smartcat changes nothing in the FDK settlement model. You translate in your own tools, deliver the translated file to the client, and FDK issues the invoice. You can negotiate the cost of CAT tool licences directly with the suppliers — FDK does not restrict the way you work.
Translation agencies — the subcontractor model
Most freelance translators work as subcontractors for one or several translation agencies. The agency manages the project and the contact with the end client, while the translator does the work and invoices the agency. FDK fits this model perfectly: we issue B2B invoices to agencies in Poland and abroad, in złoty or in foreign currencies. One subscription covers settlements with all the agencies you work with in a given month.
Sworn translators
A sworn translator entered on the list kept by the Ministry of Justice can make full use of the FDK incubator. You produce certified translations bearing your own seal — and the settlement goes through FDK. This is especially advantageous with irregular assignments from courts, notaries' offices and public authorities, when monthly revenue varies and ZUS costs are hard to plan for.
Copyright in translations
Please note: not every translation is automatically a work protected by copyright. Copyright protection applies to translations of a creative nature — above all those that require specialist knowledge (e.g. medical, legal, technical or literary translation, or game localisation). Simple, reproductive translations (e.g. short e-mails, standard forms) may not meet the criterion of creativity.
FDK does not take over any of your copyright — we merely act as an intermediary in settlements. We can, however, help you review agreements assigning rights or granting licences, which is crucial for literary translation, video game localisation and work with foreign publishers.
You translate. We will take care of the rest.
Settle your technical, sworn and conference translation work legally and cheaply. Swap the 15% lump sum for 6% PIT — with no ZUS and no company of your own.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. FDK handles sworn translations. A sworn translator entered on the list kept by the Ministry of Justice can settle their services through the FDK incubator — we issue invoices for completed certified translations to private clients, notaries' offices, courts and public institutions.
It is worth remembering that sworn translations are classified under PKWiU 74.30 and covered by the 15% lump-sum tax in a sole proprietorship (JDG). At FDK you pay a flat 6% PIT instead, with no ZUS — with revenue of 8 000 zł the difference comes to more than 3 100 zł a month in the incubator's favour.
Working with translation agencies within FDK is entirely possible and is one of the most popular models. The agency sends the order, you do the translation, and FDK (as the incubator, on your behalf) issues a B2B invoice to the agency.
We handle settlements with Polish and foreign agencies in złoty, euros, dollars and other currencies. A single subscription of 400 zł covers any number of invoices in a month — regardless of how many agencies and projects are involved.
The choice of PKWiU code is crucial in a sole proprietorship (JDG), because it determines the lump-sum rate: PKWiU 74.30 (written translation — technical, legal, sworn, localisation, literary) is subject to a 15% lump sum, while PKWiU 85.59 (educational services, including conference interpreting and other interpreting treated as a training service) is subject to 8.5%.
At FDK this difference makes no practical difference: whatever the type of translation and the PKWiU classification, you pay a flat 6% PIT with no ZUS. We advise on the correct classification during the consultation — you focus on the work, we focus on compliance with the regulations.
Yes. FDK regularly works with translators serving clients inside and outside the EU — translation agencies from Germany, France, the Netherlands, the UK, the USA, the Scandinavian countries and elsewhere. We issue invoices in euros, dollars and other foreign currencies.
For EU companies we apply the VAT reverse charge mechanism, which simplifies settlements and removes the need to register for VAT abroad. We also handle settlements with global translation platforms (Gengo, Translated, ProZ). For revenue from outside the EU we advise on withholding tax (WHT) matters.
Please note: not every translation is automatically a work protected by copyright. Copyright protection (Article 2 of the Copyright Act) applies to translations of a creative nature — above all those that require specialist knowledge (e.g. medical, legal, technical or literary translation, or game localisation). FDK does not interfere with those rights in any way and does not take over any economic rights to your translations.
Agreements assigning copyright or granting a licence to a translation are concluded between you and your client (or publisher). FDK can help with the legal review of such agreements — this is particularly important for literary translation, video game localisation and work with foreign publishers. Our lawyers have experience in copyright law in the translation industry.
Get in touch with us
Contact details
+48 575 594 500 (PL) — call us
+48 794 731 000 (EN/UA/RU) — call us
b2b@firmadlakazdego.pl (for Contractors)
Address
Fundacja Firma Dla Każdego
ul. Lwowska 17/4
00-660 Warszawa
NIP: 5252625624