Tax Office Ran Nearly 58,000 Test Purchases

7 September 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

Poland’s tax office carried out 57,858 test purchases in 2025, finding irregularities in thousands. What expats should know about receipts and fines.

Test purchases by Poland’s tax administration reached huge numbers in 2025. Consequently, authorities completed 57,858 checks and found problems in many cases.

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Test purchases: how they work and why

The National Revenue Administration (KAS) conducts discreet checks. In short, an inspector poses as a customer. Then, they buy a good or service. Only after the sale do they reveal their ID. Moreover, the procedure aims to catch unregistered sales and missing receipts.

Scope, scale and recent statistics

KAS reported 57,858 checks in 2025. Furthermore, inspectors found irregularities in 19,282 cases. In the first quarter of 2026, they carried out 15,251 checks. Also, those checks detected problems in 5,834 instances. Therefore, these operations are frequent and widespread.

Authorities issued more than 20,000 fines in 2025. In addition, fines totaled nearly 28 million PLN. Consequently, businesses across retail, hospitality and transport face heightened scrutiny. Moreover, KAS says it selects targets based on risk analysis. It does not choose shops at random.

What happens during a check?

An inspector buys a product or service like any other customer. Then, they show an ID and inform the seller. If the purchase involves a returnable product, sellers must accept the return. However, services cannot be returned. Therefore, inspectors often document the visit and then prepare notes or protocols.

Moreover, the inspector can question the actual cashier. Also, the law allows the inspector to confirm the cashier’s identity when necessary. In some cases, KAS focuses on single-person businesses. For example, it may check consultants who serve companies they partially own. Consequently, the administration sometimes challenges tax treatment of income.

Why this matters to expats in Poland

Foreign residents should ask for receipts at shops, restaurants and taxis. In addition, a receipt serves as proof for warranty or expense claims. Also, employers may need receipts for accounting and social security (ZUS) filings. ZUS is Poland’s social insurance office. Likewise, NFZ means the public health insurer. PESEL denotes the national ID number used in many services.

Moreover, customer reports feed KAS investigations. The government runs a “Weź paragon” campaign. Therefore, anyone can report missing receipts by phone or via KAS tools. In addition, the e-Paragony app also accepts tips. Consequently, a report can trigger an inspection.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: If you live in Poland carry cash or card receipts after purchases. Keep receipts for business expenses and warranty claims. If a seller refuses to issue a receipt, report it via KAS channels or the e-Paragony app. Also learn basic tax rules if you run a business here. Consult an English-speaking accountant to navigate VAT, ZUS (social security), and tax fines.

Finally, remember that inspectors reveal themselves only after the sale. Therefore, staff cannot retroactively add a printed receipt to avoid sanctions. Consequently, businesses should train employees to issue receipts correctly. Moreover, expats should not assume small errors are harmless. Fines vary with the offense and its context.

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