From January 1, 2026, not only the RTV license fee has changed in Poland. The catalog of devices covered by this service has also expanded. Poczta Polska, which collects them, announced that it will treat smartphones, tablets and laptops on an equal footing with traditional TVs or radios.
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You will have to pay an RTV subscription fee for your smartphone in 2026.
The position of Poczta Polska results from the judgments of administrative courts. This mainly concerns the decision made by the Supreme Administrative Court. In its justification, the adjudicating panel emphasized that “it is not the design of the device itself that matters, but its reception function.”
“A radio or television receiver, within the meaning of the License Fees Act, is a technical device adapted to the reception of radio and television programs, the design of which indicates that it is intended primarily for the reception of radio or television programs. The characteristic features of such devices may indicate that their exclusive or main function is the reception of radio or television programs,” reads the justification for the judgment.
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How much is the TV license fee in 2026?
The monthly fee for the radio will be PLN 9.50 and for the TV PLN 30.50. Discounts are available for a one-time payment for a longer period. If you pay for the whole year in advance, the cost will be PLN 102.60 for the radio and PLN 329.40 for the TV. This is more than last year. People paying their monthly subscription fee will pay PLN 9.60 more per year for a radio and PLN 38.40 more for a TV set. Due to technical possibilities, smartphones, tablets and laptops are treated as televisions, therefore the monthly rate for them will be PLN 30.50.
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Will the government abolish the TV license fee in 2026?
Most likely, this is the last year when we pay the RTV license fee in its current form. The government soon wants to thoroughly amend the media law, which assumes the abolition of the fee. From 2027, its place would be taken by an audiovisual fee added to the annual PIT settlement. In this way, the tax office would transfer approximately PLN 2.5 billion to public media each year. However, arrears in paying the subscription fee are to remain in force and are still subject to enforcement.
