Poland to reform RTV license fee via tax returns by 2027

The Polish Ministry of Culture has announced a major reform of public media financing set to take effect on January 1, 2027. The plan will replace the traditional RTV license fee with a new audiovisual fee collected automatically through annual tax returns (PIT). This change aims to eliminate the current system of registering television and radio sets and end home inspections by Polish Post employees.

The proposed new fee is expected to be approximately 8–9 PLN per month, subject to annual inflation adjustments. While the reform aims to simplify the process, certain groups will be exempt, including seniors over 75, individuals with specific disability certifications, war invalids, and low-income pensioners over 60. Those eligible for exemptions must submit declarations to the tax office to receive them.

Under the current system, failure to pay can lead to significant administrative enforcement. Tax authorities have the power to seize funds from bank accounts, tax overpayments, or portions of wages and pensions to cover arrears. Recent enforcement actions have seen substantial collections, with a single record debt reaching 137,000 PLN in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship.