Poland to increase RTV fees and considers new audiovisual tax

Poland is facing significant changes to its audiovisual financing system. Starting January 1, 2027, the National Broadcasting Council has set new RTV subscription rates. Monthly fees for radio receivers will increase to 10.80 PLN, while television or radio-TV sets will rise to 34.50 PLN, representing an approximately 13 percent increase due to annual inflation indexation.

Penalties for failing to register devices will also rise. Unregistered radios will incur a 324 PLN fine, and unregistered televisions will face a 1,035 PLN fine. Poczta Polska has intensified inspections in homes, businesses, and vehicles, with the ability to claim unpaid fees for up to five years.

Simultaneously, the Ministry of Culture is developing bill UC130, which proposes replacing the traditional device-based subscription with a new audiovisual fee. This reform aims to move away from monitoring physical receivers and instead fund public media through the state budget. The proposed new fee could be approximately 8–9 PLN per month per person and might apply to users of smartphones, tablets, and computers, regardless of whether they own a traditional television or radio.