After CWTON Registration: First Data Update and Mistakes
Registration isn't a one-time action. When to update CWTON data, why a CWTON-vs-listing mismatch is the most common mistake, and what happens to the number on sale.
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What's next with CWTON: July 2026 update
Back in spring, many outlets predicted that Polish hosts would be collecting CWTON numbers en masse in May 2026. Reality turned out differently: the register has not been launched, and as of early July 2026 nobody in Poland holds a CWTON number, because there is physically nowhere to register. This article sums up the current state of implementation and what's worth doing now, while waiting for the system to go live.
Key takeaways
- The CWTON system has not been launched - registration is currently impossible and no host holds a CWTON number
- The Polish implementing act (draft UC135) is still in the legislative process - fines and detailed obligations are, for now, only provisions of a draft bill
- Deputy minister Ireneusz Raś confirmed Poland is using the transition period until 15 October 2026; some sources suggest host registration may realistically start as late as Q1 2027
- What already applies today: registering your property in the municipal records and smoke detectors in premises offering accommodation services (from 30 June 2026)
State of CWTON implementation: July 2026
EU Regulation 2024/1028 on the collection and sharing of short-term rental data has applied since 20 May 2026. But those rules are addressed primarily to member states and booking platforms - they do not, by themselves, oblige a Polish host to register until Poland launches its national register.
And that register still doesn't exist. The Polish implementing act (the government's UC135 draft prepared by the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, plus a parallel parliamentary draft) has not been passed. The CWTON IT system - the Central Register of Tourist Accommodation Facilities - is not accepting applications. Deputy minister Ireneusz Raś confirmed on 15 April 2026 that Poland is using the transition period until 15 October 2026, and some commentators suggest the actual start of host registration may slip to early 2027.
Platforms such as Booking.com and Airbnb are not removing Polish listings without a registration number - where a number field appears at all, it is optional, because there is no register against which a platform could verify anything.
What's worth doing now, before CWTON launches
No register doesn't mean nothing to do. Several obligations exist independently of CWTON, and one of them took effect very recently.
1. Register your property in the municipal records
This is the only "register" of short-term rentals that actually operates in Poland today: entering your property in the municipality's records of other facilities providing accommodation services (Articles 38-39 of the Act on Hotel Services). The obligation has existed for years and is independent of CWTON. If you haven't done it yet, it's the most concrete formality you can complete today - at your local municipal or city office.
2. Install smoke detectors - mandatory since 30 June 2026
Under the Ministry of Interior regulation of 21 November 2024, smoke detectors have been mandatory since 30 June 2026 in existing premises where accommodation services are provided - including apartments rented short-term. Wherever fuel is burned (a stove, fireplace, or gas water heater), a carbon monoxide detector is also required. This is the only hard, already-binding new requirement for hosts in 2026 - and the deadline has just passed, so if you don't have detectors, install them without delay. Details in Fire safety requirements in short-term rental.
3. Get your paperwork in order
Gather your legal title to the property (ownership, a lease with a subletting right, the owner's power of attorney), house rules, GDPR-compliant guest data processing rules, and safety documents. When registration opens, you'll have everything at hand. The full document checklist will help.
4. Review your taxes
Private rental income is taxed exclusively under the lump-sum regime: 8.5% (12.5% on revenue above PLN 100,000). Remember DAC7 too: platforms report your revenue data to the tax administration, so any mismatch between platform reports and your tax return surfaces easily. More in Short-term rental tax 2026.
What comes after CWTON launches - obligations from the draft bill
The rules below come from the draft implementing act and may still change during parliamentary work. Treat them as a preview, not binding law:
- Property registration and a registration number - each short-term rental property is to receive a number that will have to be displayed in platform listings
- Fines - the draft provides for up to PLN 50,000 for failing to register and up to PLN 10,000 for providing false data
- A fire-safety compliance declaration - intended to be part of the registration application
- Number verification by platforms - once the register is live, platforms are to check numbers on Polish listings
None of these obligations applies today. They will only take effect after the act is passed, the vacatio legis expires, and the system actually launches.
Get notified when CWTON actually launches
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does anyone already have a CWTON number?
No. The system has not been launched, so no host in Poland holds a CWTON number. If someone offers to "arrange a CWTON number" for a fee, treat it as a red flag - that service cannot be performed today.
Am I at risk of fines for not registering?
No. The fines (up to PLN 50,000) are a provision of a draft bill that has not been passed. There is no legal basis for penalising the lack of an entry in a register that doesn't exist.
What actually applies to me today?
Registering your property in the municipal records (Articles 38-39 of the Act on Hotel Services), smoke detectors since 30 June 2026 (plus a CO detector where fuel is burned), the annual chimney inspection, and correctly settling taxes on your rental income.
When will CWTON registration start?
The officially confirmed direction is using the transition period until 15 October 2026. Some sources suggest host registration may realistically start only in Q1 2027. Follow the Ministry of Sport and Tourism's announcements and our CWTON implementation timeline.
---Legal note: This content is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal status: July 2026. EU Regulation 2024/1028 has applied since 20.05.2026, but the registration obligation for Polish hosts depends on the passage of the national implementing act and the launch of the CWTON system, which has not yet happened. The registration obligations and fines described come from a draft bill and may change.
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