May 20 Deadline for Health Contribution Settlement; ZUS to Refund Overpayments
Translated from Polish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Polish entrepreneurs have until May 20, 2026, to settle their annual health insurance contribution for 2025.
- This settlement must be submitted with the April contribution documents, and any overpayment will be refunded by ZUS (Social Insurance Institution).
- If an underpayment is found, entrepreneurs must pay the difference by May 20, 2026; corrections to monthly settlements can be made until July 1, 2026, if no refund is requested.
Polish entrepreneurs are reminded that the deadline for their annual health insurance contribution settlement for 2025 is fast approaching on May 20, 2026. This crucial filing, which must accompany the April contribution documents, determines the correct health insurance amount based on the income or profit earned throughout the year. The Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) will process these settlements, and any resulting overpayment will be duly returned to the entrepreneur.
Do 20 maja 2026 roku przedsiębiorcy mają czas na roczne rozliczenie składki zdrowotnej za 2025 r. Dokument trzeba przekazać razem z rozliczeniem za kwiecień. Jeśli z rozliczenia wynika nadpłata składki zdrowotnej, ZUS odda pieniądze.
The annual settlement applies to individuals engaged in non-agricultural business activities who were subject to health insurance in 2025 and opted for one of the three main taxation methods: tax scale, flat tax, or lump-sum tax on registered revenue. This obligation extends not only to currently active business owners but also to those who suspended or ceased their operations during the previous year, provided they were covered by health insurance for at least one day.
Roczne rozliczenie składki zdrowotnej dotyczy osób prowadzących pozarolniczą działalność gospodarczą, które w 2025 r. podlegały ubezpieczeniu zdrowotnemu i rozliczały się jedną z trzech form opodatkowania – skalą podatkową, podatkiem liniowym lub ryczałtem ewidencjonowanym.
For those who find themselves with an overpayment, ZUS will automatically generate a refund request form (RZS-R) and make it available on the payer's account via the eZUS portal. However, the refund is contingent upon the entrepreneur having no outstanding contribution arrears and no improperly claimed social insurance benefits. The entrepreneur must review the form, specify a bank account, sign it, and return it to ZUS by June 1, 2026. Failure to do so will result in the overpayment being credited to their account for use by the end of the year, rather than being directly refunded.
Jeśli z rozliczenia wynika nadpłata składki zdrowotnej, ZUS automatycznie przygotuje wniosek RZS-R i udostępni go na koncie płatnika w portalu eZUS. Warunkiem zwrotu jest brak zaległości w składkach i brak nienależnie pobranych świadczeń z ubezpieczeń społecznych.
Conversely, if the annual settlement reveals an underpayment, the entrepreneur is obligated to pay the outstanding amount along with their April contribution, no later than May 20, 2026. Entrepreneurs wishing to correct their monthly settlements have until July 1, 2026, to submit revised documents, provided they are not simultaneously applying for an overpayment refund. This detailed process ensures accurate contribution collection and management by ZUS, reflecting the complexities of Poland's social security system for business owners.
Z kolei gdy roczne rozliczenie pokaże niedopłatę, przedsiębiorca musi dopłacić brakującą kwotę razem ze składką za kwiecień, najpóźniej do 20 maja.
Originally published by Rzeczpospolita in Polish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.