Mass Unannounced Tax Checks Hit Polish Businesses

12 September 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

Poland’s revenue service ran 57,858 unannounced tax checks in 2025, finding violations in one third of them. Learn why this matters for expats.

Mass unannounced tax checks by Poland’s tax authority have surged. In 2025 the Krajowa Administracja Skarbowa ran 57,858 buying-type inspections, and found problems in over 19,000 cases.

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How the checks work

An inspector behaves like any customer. Consequently, they buy or order a service first. Moreover, they reveal their identity only after the transaction. Therefore the seller often does not know whom they served. The inspector then shows official ID and explains rights and duties. In many cases the inspector returns the purchased goods. However, services cannot be returned in the same way.

Why the state uses unannounced tax checks

The revenue authority wants targeted enforcement. In addition, officials now rely on data analysis to choose targets. Consequently, classic long audits dropped in 2025. The administration performed fewer formal tax inspections. However, it increased spot-checks and verification actions. The result: nearly 2.64 million verification steps in 2025. Therefore the government calls this a shift in methods, not a reduction in oversight.

Who faces the checks

The checks mostly concern businesses selling to consumers. These include restaurants, shops, beauty salons, and service points. Moreover, inspectors focused on gastronomy, construction, car workshops, beauty, and online retail. Sellers who must register sales on fiscal cash registers attract attention. However, some transactions qualify for exemptions from cash register rules. Therefore lack of a paper receipt does not automatically mean an offence. Inspectors must first establish legal obligations for each sale.

Practical implications for workers and owners

The owner need not stand behind the counter. Consequently, staff can face a check alone. Therefore training frontline employees matters. Moreover, the administration found violations in about one third of checks. The state also denies claims that inspectors chase quotas for fines (mandat). Instead, it says actions rest on risk profiles. However, the overall value of adjustments rose markedly in 2025.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: If you run or work in a shop, cafe, or salon, always give a proper receipt. Polish fiscal rules require cash registers in many cases. Learn local terms: ZUS (social insurance), NFZ (national health fund), PESEL (national ID number), and mandat (fine). Also train staff on receipts and VAT rules. If an inspector visits, they will ask to see the printed or electronic receipt. Keep records and digital backups. When in doubt, ask a Polish accountant or legal adviser familiar with tax audits and consumer sales law.

Poland’s change matters for expats who do business here. Businesses must adapt to constant spot-checks. Moreover, employees must follow correct cash register routines. Therefore non-Polish speakers should have an English summary of daily procedures. In addition, keep a local accountant on call. The KAS trend shows enforcement will use data and rapid checks more often. Consequently, compliance matters more than ever.

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