After years of speculation and promises, the Polish government prepares to radical improvement of the public media backing system. conventional RTV subscription, which has been struggling with dramatically low recovery for years, can yet go back to history. There are 2 scenarios on the table, and 1 of them provides for the introduction of a fresh compulsory audiovisual fee automatically charged by the taxation Office. Does this truly mean lower costs for Poles, or on the contrary – for many families it will be a crucial increase in the burden? The changes will not happen quickly, due to the fact that at the earliest in 2027, but it is worth knowing what awaits us and how to prepare.
Big RTV subscription reform: 2 scripts on the table
The National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) is intensively examining 2 main improvement paths to address the financing problem of Polish tv and Polish Radio. The first option is to introduce new audiovisual feethat would replace the current subscription. Her Majesty, as the Tribunalski.pl portal informs, would oscillate within the limits PLN 8-9 per month and would be valued annually. It is simply a seemingly tiny amount, but its key difference lies in the method of collection.
Rp.pl explains that unlike the current ineffective system, the fresh charge would be automatically enforced by taxation offices. They would collect it during the yearly settlement of the PIT declaration, which would dramatically increase its collection. The second, more extremist script is total abolition of the subscription and public media backing straight from the state budget. In this option all taxpayers would finance TVP and Polish Radio through general taxes, without any additional, dedicated fees. Regardless of your choice, Portalplock.pl confirms that changes will not come into force in 2025 or 2026 – This will be the earliest in 2027.
New audiovisual fee: How will the conscription change and for whom?
The current subscription strategy is simply a real pain. Infor.pl portal reminds that the current monthly rate is 27.30 PLN for tv and radio or PLN 8.70 for the radio itself. all year, it gives it PLN 327,60 For the tv set. The problem is that only a tiny percent of Poles actually pay it. Spidersweb.pl portal indicates that an ineffective collection strategy forces the government to subsidize public media straight from the state budget, which is de facto taxation backing for all citizens, whether they pay the subscription or not.
The example of Mrs. Małgorzata from Krakow, who has not paid RTV subscription for 15 years, is typical of millions of Poles. "I have a TV, but I think the quality of TVP programs does not correspond to the price. I like to pay for Netflix. No 1 always controlled me," he says. However, if the government decides to introduce a fresh audiovisual fee, specified a "avoidance" will become impossible. The work to registry a tv receiver will be abolished and the fee will be charged automatically all adult Pole aged 26-75 yearsunless he qualifies for dismissal. It's a fundamental change that's expected to guarantee close to 100% retention.
Will it be cheaper? fresh mathematics for Poles
The apparent savings, resulting from a lower rate of PLN 8-9 per month, may prove deceptive, especially for multi-person farms. Forsal.pl portal warns that the fresh fee is to include all adult household associate aged 26 to 75. This means that in a household with 2 adults, working children, the full costs may be importantly higher than the current subscription.
Let us look at the circumstantial calculations presented by Infor.pl:
- For single-person holdings change will be beneficial: alternatively of current PLN 327.60 per year They'll pay around PLN 108 per year 9 zł x 12 months).
- Couple surviving together She'd pay a year. PLN 216 (2 people x 108 PLN).
- Family with 2 adult children (aged 26-75) PLN 432 per year (4 people x 108 PLN). That's above 100 PLN more than the current yearly RTV subscription fee from 1 tv receiver (PLN 327.60).
Therefore, although the unit rate is lower, the full cost for many families can drastically increase. This is key information that should encourage Poles to think about their home budget.
Who will avoid a fresh fee? List of exemptions and traps
The good news is that not all Poles will be covered by the fresh audiovisual fee. Journal.pl lists the groups to be exempted from it:
- Unemployed
- Persons low income (earning little than minimum wage)
- Seniors at 75
- Children, students and adolescents up to 26 years of age
- Renters and persons with disability (I disabled group)
The Tulodz.pl website emphasizes that although the list of exemptions is wider than with the current subscription, at the same time the work applies to more people – each adult in the household, not just farms as a whole. This means that if you do not qualify for 1 of the above groups, you will be charged the fee automatically. No more avoiding and forgetting about the registration of the receiver. The fresh strategy is to be tight and leave no area for free interpretations.
What does that mean for you? Prepare for Change
Your financial situation after the improvement will depend on 2 key factors: which option will be chosen by the government and whether you qualify for dismissal. If an audiovisual fee is introduced and you belong to the age group of 26-75 and do not meet the criteria for exemption, prepare for automatic deduction of about PLN 108 per year erstwhile clearing income tax. The Money.pl portal warns that any backlog in the audiovisual fee will be treated in the same way as another taxation arrears, which means serious legal consequences.
For those who have now consistently avoided paying RTV subscription, the first script means End of ‘free ride’. It will no longer be possible to avoid a fee by not registering receivers or ignoring calls from the Polish Post Office. If you run a multi-person farm with grown children, you request to rethink your budget. Costs may increase importantly – in the case of a household with 2 adult children present PLN 327.60 to PLN 432 per year.
The first step is to follow the government's decisions. The second step is to check if you are eligible for dismissal – if so, you will gotta paper it at the appropriate office. The 3rd step is to plan the household budget, especially for multi-stakeholder farms, which should already start putting aside additional funds for a possible fresh charge. Remember, change won't come into force by 2027, so you have time to prepare. But note: If you are not presently paying your RTV subscription, this does not mean that you are safe. Infor.pl portal warns that Polish Post Office controllers can inactive knock on the door and impose punishment on PLN 819 for not paying the current subscription.
The improvement is part of the European trend in the automation of public media charges. Spidersweb.pl recalls that akin solutions work successfully in Germany, the UK or the Nordic countries. In Germany, each household pays about EUR 18.36 per period (approximately PLN 80), regardless of the number of receivers. Poland draws inspiration from these proven models, aiming to increase the financial stableness of public media. The question remains whether the fresh strategy will be adopted by society without major controversy, especially in the face of concerns about the quality of the content offered and the fairness of the exemption system.
Read more:
End of RTV subscription? The government has 2 plans, 1 will hit millions of Poles!
