Polish public administration, historically associated with bureaucracy and paper circulation, is currently undergoing the most pragmatic phase of its transformation. The latest figures from the Foundation for Cashless Poland for 2025 indicate a trend that goes beyond mere citizen convenience – it is the optimisation of processes that is beginning to relieve the burden on local government budgets in real terms.
Last year, more than 12 million digital payments were made in the public sector, a dynamic increase of 23% year-on-year. The Foundation has already installed more than 20,000 payment devices in 3,600 offices. However, it is not the physical terminals, but the integration of payments with the mCitizen mobile ecosystem that seems to be the direction that will most powerfully change the landscape of local finance.
Taxes within thumb’s reach
A model example of this change is the ePayments service. Although it is currently used by 26% of the population nationwide, the structure of transactions clearly shows where the greatest business potential for local authorities lies. As many as 75% of all transactions in the mCitizen app were for property tax, with a further 23% for waste management fees. The total amount of PLN 54.5 million transferred digitally is a signal that Poles are ready for the full digitalisation of public tributes.
Tomasz Misiak, vice-president of the Foundation for Cashless Poland, emphasises that the aim is to make contact with the administration “fast and secure”. From a business perspective, this primarily means shortening the settlement cycle and reducing cash handling costs, which translates into measurable operational savings for thousands of municipalities.
Trust infrastructure
The success of this implementation is based on a unique public and private sector partnership. Supported by giants such as Mastercard and Visa and the Ministry of Finance, the Foundation has created an infrastructure that is becoming a market standard. The fact that nearly 150 local authorities have joined the ePayments project – including 50 as part of a dedicated pilot programme – suggests that the barrier to entry for technology in offices is steadily falling.
For decision-makers and fintech entrepreneurs, the conclusion is clear: the Polish public sector is no longer a digital open-air museum. It is becoming a receptive market for solutions that improve cash flow efficiency. The next step is likely to be the automation of cyclical payments, which will further strengthen the bond between the citizen and the modern state.
