From January 1, 2026 portfolios of Poles are facing a real shock. The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage finalises regulations that will impose a fresh tribute on the most popular electronic equipment. I'm talking alleged Reprographic feethat includes smartphones, laptops, tablets, and even SmartTVs. In practice, this means inevitable price increases, up to respective 100 zlotys per unit. The government explains the changes with the request to adapt Polish law to EU directives and the request to support artists. However, the communication is brutally simple for consumers: there is small time left to buy electronics at current prices. The clock is ticking, and the last bell for cheaper buying will sound at the end of 2025. It'll only be more costly later.
The fresh taxation will hit everyone. How much will the price increase exactly?
Although importers and equipment manufacturers will be formally charged a fresh fee, there is no uncertainty that costs will be full passed on to customers. The draft regulation assumes that the taxation will cover all devices equipped with mass retention above 32 GB. In today's realities, this means virtually all modern smartphone, computer or tablet available on the market. The rate of charge may be up to 3% of the device's value, which will translate into tangible amounts.
Market analysts already estimation possible increases. For example, the price of a popular smartphone model, like iPhone 16 Pro Max with a memory of 1 TB, can increase by about PLN 230. For efficient laptops like MacBook Pro, the rise will be even more severe and can scope even 360 zł. Importantly, the Ministry of Culture does not plan any compensation mechanisms, specified as a simplification in VAT on these products. This means that consumers will pay more without receiving any additional value in return. This is simply a pure increase in the cost of purchasing equipment, which for many has become a tool of regular work and communication.
What is simply a reprographic fee and to whom will the money go?
Reprographic charge, frequently called "smartphone tax", is actually a form of compensation for artists and creators for the losses they incur in relation to alleged permitted private use. Polish law allows everyone to legally copy already widely distributed tracks (e.g. songs, films) for their own use. So we can not worry about the legal consequences of uploading your favourite music on the telephone or save the video on your computer disk. The fee is intended to compensate the creators of this “lost profit”.
The funds thus collected – and the government estimates that in 2026 it will be the amount of the order PLN 200 million – will go to collective rights management organisations, specified as ZAiKS, STOART or ZPAV. These, in turn, will be distributed among the associated artists. However, there is controversy about the fact that the fresh regulations will include devices whose main intent is not to copy content, but everyday work, discipline and communication. So we will pay the taxation from equipment that we usage for emailing, online banking or videoconferencing.
What kind of devices will they sell? The list is long
The catalog of devices that will be covered by the fresh tribute from 2026 is highly wide. The key criterion is to have interior memory of capacity exceeding 32 GB. It's a threshold that disqualifies practically all modern electronics from cheaper purchases. The list will primarily include:
- Smartphones: Virtually all fresh model available on the market, from budget to flagship, present has more than 32 GB of memory.
- Laptops and desktop computers: All devices with SSDs or HDDs that have been standard for many years.
- Tablets: As with smartphones, the charge will include the vast majority of models utilized for work, learning and entertainment.
- SmartTV TVs: Modern TVs with smart features besides have built-in memory that qualifies them to cover a fresh fee.
- External disks and another retention media: Although the main emphasis is on terminal equipment, the fee may besides cover another media.
In practice this means that almost all acquisition of consumer electronics after 1 January 2026 will entail an additional hidden cost. It will only be possible to avoid it by selecting very low capacity devices, which in many cases is simply impractical.
End of inexpensive electronics in Poland? There's not much time to shop.
The introduction of a fresh reprographic charge is the biggest change in this strategy in decades. Experts agree that its effects will be immediately and painfully felt by consumers. Clock inexorably ticking – Poles only have time until the end of 2025to get electronic equipment on more favourable old rules. After that date, prices will inevitably rise.
For those who planned to change their telephone soon, buy a fresh laptop for work or make a modern TV, this is the last bell to make a decision. The postponement of the acquisition for 2026 will mean the request to pay a "tax from delay" ranging from respective twelve to even respective 100 zlotys. So, if your current equipment is in problem or you are planning a technological upgrade, You better do it before the end of this year.. This is the only certain way to avoid additional costs and save money that will shortly become a compulsory tribute to creators.
Read more:
The fresh taxation on electronics is certain. Prices of smartphones and laptops up 360 PLN!
