Systems and methods are disclosed that relate to performing rate matching when using polar codes. In one embodiment, a plurality of bits are received at a polar encoder. A value is obtained that corresponds to at least one of: a coding rate to be used to transmit the plurality of bits, and a number of coded bits to be used to transmit the plurality of bits. It is determined which range of values the value falls within, and an information sequence is obtained that corresponds to the range the value falls within. The plurality of bits are mapped to a subset of positions of an input vector according to the information sequence. The remaining positions of the input vector are set as frozen values that are known by a decoder. The input vector is then encoded in the polar encoder to generate a codeword.