Polish rail firms risk paralysis as customs debt liabilities surge

The National Revenue Administration (KAS) has sharply increased the number of customs‑debt decisions imposed on companies operating rail freight at Poland’s eastern EU border. Firms that are neither importers nor owners of the goods are being held financially responsible for customs irregularities they did not control.

The ProKolej Foundation warns that the practice could restrict freight traffic and disrupt supply‑chain continuity, as the claimed sums often exceed the total revenue of the operators. Jakub Majewski, president of the foundation, says the obligations “exceed the total income from all transport operations, making it impossible for a rational entrepreneur to continue providing services.” The growing fiscal burden threatens liquidity and may force carriers to abandon cross‑border routes, reducing rail service availability in the region.