TV licence fee to rise sharply as inspectors visit homes and cars

16 August 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

Poland raises the TV licence fee for 2027 and expands inspections of homes, firms and cars. Expat guidance included.

Poland’s National Broadcasting Council set higher rates for the TV licence fee from January 1, 2027. Consequently, Warsaw residents will pay more just like the rest of the country.

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New rates set for 2027

The Council signed the regulation in May 2026. Therefore the radio fee rises to 10.80 PLN per month. Moreover the television fee increases to 34.50 PLN monthly. In addition the change reflects automatic indexation by inflation. Consequently the yearly cost reaches 129.60 PLN for radios. Moreover a TV licence costs 414 PLN per year if you pay monthly. However Poczta Polska still offers discounts for advance payments. Therefore you can save between 3 and 10 percent when you pay over longer periods.

What the TV licence fee rise means

Penalties also increase automatically. Consequently the fine equals thirty times the monthly fee. Therefore an unregistered radio now carries a 324 PLN penalty. Moreover an unregistered TV can cost 1,035 PLN in fines. In addition Poczta Polska can seek unpaid fees for up to five years. Consequently the total bill can reach several thousand zloty. However the process begins only after verification and formal steps. Therefore ignoring the issue can make costs grow quickly.

Controls, cars and businesses

Poczta Polska intensified checks across Poland in 2026. Consequently inspectors now use tablets linked to a central database. Moreover they must show official ID and a written authorisation. However they do not have police powers. Therefore they cannot force entry into a flat without consent. In addition a firm that refuses entry may still face evidence-based enforcement. Consequently audible TV sounds or a visible antenna can become presumptive proof.

Companies face the highest risk. Therefore businesses pay a separate fee for every working receiver. Moreover each radio in a company car also needs a separate registration. Consequently a single parking-lot photograph through a car window can trigger enforcement. However private drivers who already pay for a household licence need not pay again for their car radio. In addition firms that sell or scrap a vehicle must formally de-register the receiver. Therefore physical sale or scrapping does not cancel the obligation by itself. Moreover the courts confirmed this rule in an administrative judgment in Gliwice.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: If you work or live in Poland, note the difference between household and business rules. In short, individuals pay one household fee covering radios and TVs at home. However companies must register each device and each car radio separately. Therefore if you sell or scrap a car, you must formally de-register the receiver at a post office. Moreover inspectors must show ID but cannot force entry. In addition basic Polish terms you may encounter: ZUS (social security authority), NFZ (public health insurer), and PESEL (national ID number).

Consequently expats should check their registration records. Moreover they should ask accountants to verify fleet registrations. Therefore review your paperwork if you own company cars. In addition keep proof of de-registration when you sell equipment or vehicles. However if inspectors contact you, cooperate and request written confirmation of any alleged breaches.

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