Post Office Checks: Poles Must Prove They Paid

19 October 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

Poczta Polska conducts TV licence checks Poland, requiring registration and proof of payments. Keep receipts and registration documents to avoid disputes.

inspectors are visiting doors and asking residents for proof of payments. Poczta Polska now emphasises that registration of radios and televisions is separate from paying the RTV fee. The move has practical consequences for anyone who owns reception equipment.

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TV licence checks Poland: what inspectors may do and cannot do

Authorized employees from the Centre for Financial Services of Poczta Polska perform controls. They must show written authorization and an official ID. They may also ask to see your national ID card. Inspectors cannot force entry into an apartment by using physical force. The law does not grant postal workers a right to search your home without consent.

Registration, payments and the documents you must keep

Polish law links the obligation to pay the RTV fee to using a receiver, not to watching public TV or listening to public radio. If a device can immediately receive broadcasts, authorities may assume it is in use. You must register a receiver within 14 days of acquisition. The registration confirmation and the notice assigning your individual identification number should be kept. A store receipt proves you bought equipment, but it does not prove you registered it.

Proof of payment matters when a dispute arises. The Krajowa Rada Radiofonii i Telewizji lists bank transfer receipts and printed electronic transfer confirmations among acceptable evidence. In practice you should save transaction receipts that show the amount, date and the recipient account. An unused payment form does not prove funds left your account. A registration document does not prove you paid regularly. A payment history often resolves disputes when someone receives a reminder they believe is incorrect.

Fees, penalties and deadlines

In 2026 the monthly fee is 9.50 zł for radio and 30.50 zł for a television or television and radio together. That equals 114 zł and 366 zł for a year when paid monthly. You must pay by the 25th day of the month for that month. The additional charge for confirmed use of an unregistered television equals 915 zł. For an unregistered radio the extra fee equals 285 zł. These extra amounts reflect the statutory multiplier of thirty times the monthly fee.

How debts are handled and where to check your account

If you already registered, Poczta Polska holds your account and payment records. The post office can calculate arrears using those records. It may send reminders and add interest like tax arrears. If unpaid, the debt can move to tax authorities for enforcement. Paying only the current monthly fee might not clear older arrears, interest, and reminder costs. After receiving a letter compare the period claimed with your bank proofs. You can ask Poczta Polska about your account and follow up with the KRRiT helpline at 43 842 06 06 or by email at rtv.eod@poczta-polska.pl.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: Keep registration papers and bank payment confirmations in a safe place. Registration and payment are separate steps. If you move house, sell a TV, or stop using a receiver, notify the post office to de-register. Seniors and disabled people may qualify for exemptions; for example, people aged 75 or over receive exemption automatically from the start of the next month, but they still must register the device. For assistance, check the post office and KRRiT contacts provided above.

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