The Supreme Administrative Court has ruled that Polish citizens living abroad remain liable for radio and television license fees if they failed to formally deregister their devices before leaving the country.
The Court’s Ruling on Long-Term Absence
A recent Supreme Administrative Court (NSA) judgment from late 2025 serves as a stern reminder to Polish emigrants. Even for those living abroad for years, leaving a television set in Poland creates a continuing legal obligation to pay the license fee, provided the device was previously registered.
A Decade-Long Legal Dispute
The case involved a woman who registered her devices in 2001 and stopped payments in 2007. After residing abroad from 2008 to 2019, she was pursued by Poczta Polska for unpaid arrears. Both the Regional Administrative Court in Gliwice and the Supreme Administrative Court rejected her argument that her absence exempted her from the fees.
Registration as a Binding Legal Obligation
The courts determined that the duty to pay arises automatically upon the registration of a functional device. This fee is a public levy, not a service charge based on usage. Consequently, the fact that the owner was physically absent from the country does not negate the presumption that the device remained capable of receiving broadcasts.
The Burden of Formal Deregistration
Emigration does not constitute a valid defense, as it does not prove the device was disposed of or broken. The burden of proof rests entirely on the subscriber. Because there is no statute of limitations on these claims, individuals must retain formal proof of deregistration to avoid being held liable for years of accrued arrears.
Practical Guidelines for Moving Abroad
To avoid similar legal traps, citizens leaving Poland for extended periods should formally deregister all radio and television equipment. It is essential to store these confirmation documents indefinitely, as the technical functionality of equipment left behind remains the decisive factor in court rulings, rendering arguments based on personal usage irrelevant.