A NIP number is a tax identification number that identifies a person or a physical entity such as a limited company. It’s the first thing you need when dealing with the Polish tax authority – Urząd Skarbowy.
There are two forms to get a NIP for a physical person. NIP-3 and NIP-1.
NIP-3
Form NIP-3 is the form you need if you are not registered as self-employed. It is for reporting yourself or for making changes to an existing NIP for physical persons not conducting self-employment. It is on two pages (front only shown below). When you submit your form they will ask you your reason for the application. Is it just me or does that seem a bit dumb? Obviously you are getting a NIP because you have to pay tax, you’re probably not doing it because you like filling out green forms (unless you’re into that kind of thing of course…)
There are the following sections to complete:
A – reason for application (i.e. new or update) and location of application.
B – your personal data
C – additional info
D – signature
If enough people find this post useful then I will add step-by-step instructions on how to fill out the form if you don’t speak Polish – so drop me a comment!
NIP-1
Form NIP-1 is for those people who are set up to trade through a self-employed company. It is 4 pages long, the first sections A and B are the same as on NIP-3 and then the rest relate to your company.
Hi,
Just found your site, nice one!
Wondering if you could help. I’ve been living here a few months and am about to begin teaching English on a part time basis through a company specialising in this.
Before I begin I need the NIP number. Where do I need to go to get these forms? How long does the process take? Is it relatively straightforward?
Thanks for your help.
Daz
No problem – it’s a NIP-3 form as shown above. Just go to the Urząd Skarbowy in the town where you are living. Tell them you want a NIP number because you will start work. You just fill out that form and then get your NIP number a few days later in the post. It should be straight forward but I would recommend you take a Polish speaker with you plus your ID (e.g. passport) and your zameldowanie just in case.
What is a zameldowanie? Do i need one of these to get a NIP?
Hi Cardno. This means “registration” and you can read about it here:
http://www.britishinpoland.com/blog/2008/02/foreigners-in-poland-registration-zameldowanie/
Hallo, lieber zukunftsorientierter Freund!
Das Ausfüllen von VAT-1 und NIP-1 ist schwierig, weil ich kein Polnisch kann! >>>Die automatischen Übersetzungen sind grauenhaft!!!<<<
Ich habe für eine polnische Familie in Bogatynia und ihr sehr reparaturbedürftiges Haus 3945 Euro gesammelt. Ein deutscher Zimmermeister soll eine ganz dringende Reparatur noch vor dem Winter… ausführen. Ich muss für ihn alle Bürokratie erledigen.
Was will VAT-R Nr. 32?
Was bedeutet VAT-7?
Erbitte baldmöglichst Antwort! Besten Gruß von Peter DORN
Hallo Peter
Aber warum braucht er diese Formularen? Wenn er Deutscher ist und nicht im Poland wohnt (laenger als 6 monaten im Jahr), die Rechnungen im Deutschland gerechnet werden.
Ben
Ah, if it were only that straightforward. Some tax offices will not even accept your NIP application if it’s not signed and stamped by your prospective employer. Wanting to work and pay taxes is not good enough to get a NIP, at least not in Gdansk.
Hello. And Bye. :)
They told me at the Urzad Skarbowy that I need to have zameldowanie in order to get the NIP [she said potwierdzenia adresu z urzedu miasta, I assume she was referring to the zameldowanie]. but my name isn’t on the contract of the flat where I’m living. is it possible to still get zameldowanie or can I get the NIP without it?
I think the best solution is to get your zameldowanie for your flat. If you’re not on the contract then the owner of the building can accompany you and sign you on to the property, however many landlords are unwilling to do this as they don’t declare their rental income to the taxman and thus want to keep everything ‘off the record’.
If that happens you could play dumb and hint that you will go to the Urząd Skarbowy to tell them about your situation. Alternatively if you have a friend who is a property owner you could ask him/her to sign you on to their property instead.
I have been working for a language school since October. As far as I know everything is above board and I have been properly employed. They have only just asked me for my NIP. I went to the tax office to get my NIP sorted, they said that I don’t need one for the type of contract I have, but my school insists I get one. The problem is I can’t get one without being registered to an address and my landlord is unwilling to do this.
I’m a bit clueless about this. Anyone know why my scholl have only asked for a NIP now?
It’s now possible to download the NIP-3 form online (just type NIP-3 poland into google, it’ll come up, and it’s the same form). So I’ve got the form here, but like the people above, I can’t fill it all out, especially as I’m not registered to any place and my landlord will not come with me. So I’m not sure how to do this now! Any help would be appreciated!
Have a go at filing the NIP form anyway, maybe they won’t ask about your zameldowanie.
If it turns out that it’s necessary then you will have to persuade your landlord to register you at your address – you could hint (whilst playing dumb) that if (s)he doesn’t then his/her name might get mentioned at the tax office – if your landlord doesn’t want to register you then most likely it’s due to tax avoidance on the rental income.
I applied for nip at katowice on 5th of october.
How long does it take to get it?
I asked polish man to help me to apply for it.
because I do not know polish lanlanguage.
He says I could get it on 20 th. That means it takes 14 days . Is it righr?
i have to register my new car by 22nd. If not , I have to pay the fine. I am worried.
If I remember correctly I think I received my NIP number by post after a few days. They probably gave you the longest possible date – most likely it will come before then.
I’m trying to fill out a form for a polish employee in the UK. The form is asking for a NIP number of employment establishment which I assumed must be our company number…however this is asked for later on in the form.
Can anyone help!?
A NIP number is a Polish tax number. Both people and companies can have tax numbers. Unless you registered your UK company in Poland as an employer then you won’t have a NIP number.
Thanks for your help here Ben! Really useful! Went to the Urzad Skarbowy (after a long search for ‘my’ Urzad Skarbowy) and got it all done in about 5 mins!
You definitely need the place where you’re registered, as well as someone to vouch for you (such as the company you work for – a stamp is enough), but you don’t need the PESEL number necessarily.
Glad that’s all done and dusted! Now for the next …. bureaucratic adventure …
I have spent hour after hour after hour trudging around Krakow’s two Urzad Skarbowy being sent from desk to desk and continually being sent away frustrated and almost in tears. I wonder if the half million or so Polish people that called Ireland home at some stage during the last ten years faced as much opposition and hostitliy in their attempt to PAY TAXES. Many great things about this place but I maintain that Poland is THE MOST intollerant place I have ever been in my life.
Hello, I’m polish, but i moved to England about 4 years ago. Now i got child and i need to apply for child benefits for him. There is a question about PESEL and NIP number but i don’t think that i got one. Do you think that they need it? They didn’t put any mark next to them so i think that its not needed.
One more question. If it’s needed, can i get them online? Or i have to go straight to Poland to make them?
You could leave those fields blank on the form and see if they accept your application or not. You should contact your Polish USC and tax office, I doubt you can do it on-line but maybe you can download the forms from the internet, post it, then call them to get the numbers.