RTV Fees in Poland: Navigating 2025 Costs and Penalties

Understanding Your Obligations for Radio and Television Receivers

New regulations set to take effect in 2025 outline the monthly subscription fees for radio and television receivers in Poland, alongside updated penalty structures for non-compliance. The obligation to pay is tied to the mere possession of a receiver, regardless of usage, impacting car radios and home entertainment systems alike.

2025 RTV Subscription Rates Announced

Starting in 2025, individuals will face a monthly fee of PLN 8.70 for a radio receiver. Those possessing a television or a combined radio-television setup will be charged PLN 27.30 per month. Opting for advance payments can offer savings. For example, a quarterly radio subscription costs PLN 33.80, while an annual payment reduces the total to PLN 94. The television and radio subscription for a quarter is PLN 78.70, and for a full year, it amounts to PLN 294.90.

Steep Penalties for Unpaid RTV Subscriptions

Failure to pay the RTV subscription will result in significant penalties, calculated as 30 times the base monthly fee. For radio, this means a penalty of PLN 261, plus the overdue fees for each month of non-compliance. The penalty for an unpaid television and radio subscription is PLN 819, plus arrears. Poczta Polska employees are authorized to conduct inspections and can pursue back payments for up to five years. Persistent evasion for a radio receiver could lead to penalties totaling PLN 1305. This includes car radios, where authorities can investigate ownership history for up to five years.

Controlling Car Radios: Legal Nuances

The efficacy of simple visual checks, such as looking through a car window, to impose penalties for unpaid RTV subscriptions is questioned by legal experts. A Supreme Administrative Court ruling suggests that an inspection must verify the operational status of the receiver. This means controllers would need to start the device or ask the owner to do so to confirm it is not faulty or merely decorative. Without such verification and the owner’s cooperation, a photograph alone may not constitute sufficient proof for penalty imposition.

“In order for the inspection to result in the imposition of PLN 261 for not paying a subscription for the radio tuner, Poczta Polska employees would have to provide more evidence than just a photo of the receiver behind the car’s glass. Above all, a properly carried out inspection should also take into account the verification whether the receiver’s status allows the program to be immediately perceived. Such a shot can be supported by reasoning expressed in two judgments of the Supreme Administrative Court.”

—Legal Expert

Who is Obligated to Pay?

The RTV subscription obligation stems from possessing a receiver, irrespective of its use. For instance, owning a TV means paying the fee even if it’s solely used for streaming services. Similarly, using a car radio only for phone music playback does not exempt owners from the subscription. For individuals, the subscription is per receiver type, not per device. Owning multiple radios or TVs still requires only one subscription for each category. A car’s radio receiver is counted towards a household’s total devices.

Exemptions from RTV Subscription Fees

Certain groups are exempt from paying RTV subscription fees. These include individuals aged 75 and over, or those aged 60 and over who receive a pension not exceeding half the average salary. People unable to work and those in the first disability group are also exempt. Further exemptions apply to individuals with significant disabilities, profound deafness or hearing loss, and those with visual acuity not exceeding 15 percent. Unemployed individuals, war veterans, military invalids, and their families, as well as those receiving specific cash benefits, are also eligible for exemption.

Company Vehicles and RTV Fees

Businesses with company car fleets have different obligations. Each receiver in a company vehicle must be subscribed to individually. This means a fleet with multiple cars equipped with radios requires a separate subscription for each. The same applies to companies with multiple televisions; a subscription must be paid for each device.