Poles who have been counting on the liquidation of RTV subscription for years must face painful disappointment. alternatively of the announced reforms and the abolition of the controversial fee, the National Broadcasting and tv Council (KRRiT) announced her evidence raise. As of 1 January 2026, the highest stakes in past will enter into force, and the strategy of control and enforcement of claims is to stay unchanged. This decision sparked a wave of outrage, especially as politicians repeatedly suggested the imminent end of this archaic model of public media financing.
In practice, this means that millions of households and companies in Poland will pay more without receiving any fresh shielding mechanisms. Moreover, the maintenance of the current strategy poses a further hazard of severe financial penalties for non-payment recipients. The fresh regulations call into question the future of backing of TVP and Polish Radio, while deepening social aversion to this form of public tribute.
New rates since 2026. How much precisely will Poles pay?
The decision of the KRRiT will straight hit citizens' portfolios. According to the published regulation, from January 2026 monthly subscription fees will increase to historical levels. You'll gotta pay for having a radio receiver. 9.50 PLN per monthwhich represents an 80-cent increase compared to the current rate.
More severe growth awaits tv or radio-television receivers. In their case the monthly fee will increase by 3.20 PLN, reaching the level PLN 30.50 per month. This means spending PLN 366 per year. These are the highest rates always applied in Poland, and the increase concerns both individuals and companies and public institutions with registered receivers. The Council did not foresee any additional reductions, but for symbolic discounts for those who decided to pay the subscription in advance for the full year.
No more hope of liquidation. Why doesn't the government quit the subscription?
The issue of decommissioning the RTV subscription has been back in public debate for years, but one more time ends with promises without cover. The authoritative reason for maintaining the current strategy is, according to the rulers, "no alternative, unchangeable backing source" for Polish tv and Polish Radio. Despite the concepts analysed, specified as state budget backing and the introduction of an audiovisual charge added to the electricity bill, no solution has been implemented.
However, media experts indicate that the current model is ineffective and anachronistic. Licensability has been low for years, with expanding social opposition being generated by coercion. The decision to rise alternatively of improvement is simply a signal that the government has no thought of a systemic solution to the problem. In practice, this means that the work to registry receivers and to pay regular fees remains in force and that checks on its compliance may become even more stringent.
Severe penalties for deficiency of fees. How can a taxation office collect a debt?
Maintaining a licence strategy besides means maintaining strict sanctions for those who do not regulate their obligations. People who have an unregistered receiver or do not pay a subscription are exposed to control of the Polish Post Office. Where irregularities are found, a punishment shall be imposed. 30 times the monthly subscription rate.
In practice, since 2026, the fine for failing to pay for tv can be raised even PLN 915 (30 x PLN 30.50). Upon receipt of a call for payment, the debtor shall have 7 days to settle the claim. If he does so, the case goes to the competent taxation office which initiates enforcement proceedings. The fiscal strategy has a wide scope of debt collection tools, including the anticipation of occupations of remuneration for work, pensions, pensions or funds collected in a bank account. This is simply a real threat that many Poles inactive forget.
Who's exempt from RTV? See if you gotta pay
Despite increases, in Polish law there is inactive a catalogue of people entitled to exemption from the work to pay RTV subscription. However, it should be remembered that the exemption is not granted automatically. It is essential to submit an appropriate application at the Polish Post Office and to present papers confirming the rights.
Groups exempted from fees include:
- Persons aged 75.
- Persons in the I disabled group and persons with a crucial degree of disability.
- Persons completely incapable to work.
- Pensioners whose benefit does not exceed 50% of the average monthly salary.
- The deaf and the blind.
However, it is crucial to complete the formalities – simply gathering the criteria is not enough. The absence of a registered receiver and a request for exemption may be treated as an effort to circumvent the law, which, in the case of checks, may besides consequence in a financial penalty.
In summary, 2026 will bring Poles not only higher bills for public media, but besides a fixation of the system, which has long been requiring deep reform. alternatively of being relieved, citizens received another signal that the discussion about the future of RTV subscription was put off again for a more unspecified future.
Read more:
The RTV subscription was expected to disappear. Instead, the government is preparing a evidence raise!
