Formalities online?

It would seem that having a computer with Internet access and a browser is enough to handle most of the formalities imposed on economically active people without leaving the company. Especially for small or even sole proprietorships, such an opportunity could be an impulse for business development. Unfortunately, the practice in Poland is not so rosy. Only Poznań and Warsaw have decided to launch electronic registration for small and medium-sized enterprises. Moreover, even in these cities, when finalizing an entry, a change in the register, or resignation from business activity, we still have to go to the office. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that Poznań was the first; since August 1st of last year, the capital of Greater Poland began accepting registration forms via the Internet. Entrepreneurs required to register their business activity at the Poznań city hall can do so electronically from that moment on. It is enough to fill out an interactive form located on the www.city.poznan.pl website on the “Small and Medium Enterprises” portal and send it according to the instructions. 50 people can use this form simultaneously. Within a maximum of two hours, an official should contact each of them by phone to set a date for collecting the registration certificate. However, this new form does not exempt one from fees and completing formalities at the tax office, the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), the National Labour Inspectorate (if other people are employed), the Sanitary and Epidemiological Station (SANEPID), and the statistical office. It will not handle concessions and permits (required for some forms of activity) for the entrepreneur. The only thing a beginner businessman can sometimes still do over the Internet is to open a company bank account required by law. It should also be noted that the duties mentioned here apply to small and medium-sized companies. Larger enterprises and commercial law companies register in the National Court Register (KRS). This legally required economic database is in electronic form, but – paradoxically – to be entered into it, one must go to court in person with all the necessary original documents.