Statutory Interest 2026: What Changed

Where Things Stand in 2026

Poland's statutory interest rate for late commercial payments is tied directly to the National Bank of Poland (NBP) reference rate. Since the Monetary Policy Council (MPC) last moved rates in October 2023 — cutting by 25 basis points to 5.75% — the rate has been frozen. That means the statutory interest rate for B2B late payments has also been frozen at 15.75% per annum (the NBP reference rate plus the statutory 10 percentage points).

For the full picture — including the current rate table, the legal basis, calculation formulas, and a free calculator — see our complete guide to statutory interest for late payment. This post focuses on the news: what the rate freeze means in practice, when the next decisions are due, and how to prepare if rates move.

Why the MPC Has Been on Hold

The October 2023 cut was the second consecutive cut after a hiking cycle that peaked at 6.75% in September 2022. Since then, the Council has weighed sticky domestic inflation — driven partly by food and energy prices and partly by strong wage growth — against a slowing European economy. The result: paralysis. Twelve consecutive MPC meetings through early 2026 produced no change.

Inflation in Poland fell from a peak above 18% in February 2023 to the 4–5% range in early 2026, but that remains above the NBP's 2.5% target (±1 pp). The MPC has consistently said it needs more evidence of a sustainable downward trend before cutting again.

MPC Meeting Calendar 2026

The MPC meets approximately every four to six weeks. Key upcoming decision dates in 2026 are published on the NBP website. As of the date of this post, scheduled meetings fall in: February, March, April, May, June, July, September, October, November, and December 2026. After each meeting, the Council publishes a brief statement; the Governor holds a press conference when a decision is made.

Most Polish economist consensus forecasts as of early 2026 place the first rate cut in Q3 2026, contingent on inflation continuing to fall toward 3.5% and wage growth moderating. A full 100 basis point easing cycle is priced in for 2026–2027.

What a Rate Cut Actually Means for Your Invoices

Here is a concrete example. Suppose you have an unpaid B2B invoice for PLN 10,000 that has been overdue for 60 days.

At the current statutory rate of 15.75% per annum, the interest accrued is approximately:

PLN 10,000 × 15.75% ÷ 365 × 60 = PLN 259.18

If the MPC cuts by 0.5 percentage points (reducing the NBP reference rate from 5.75% to 5.25%), the statutory rate for late commercial payments falls to 15.25%. The same invoice over 60 days would accrue:

PLN 10,000 × 15.25% ÷ 365 × 60 = PLN 250.96

The difference is PLN 8.22 on a single PLN 10,000 invoice. For a business with PLN 500,000 in chronic overdue receivables, a 0.5 pp cut costs approximately PLN 411 in lost interest per 60-day cycle. Manageable — but worth tracking if you are using interest claims as a recovery tool.

Use our statutory interest calculator to compute the exact amount for your specific invoice.

The Rate Freeze Has a Silver Lining for Creditors

If you are a creditor waiting to be paid, the prolonged rate freeze has worked in your favour. The 15.75% statutory rate is the highest Poland has seen in over a decade. Every day a debtor delays costs them more than it would have in 2019 (when the rate was 9.5%) or 2021 (8.5%). This creates a genuine financial incentive for debtors to settle quickly — and gives you a strong argument in your payment demands.

If rates do fall in the second half of 2026, the financial pressure on debtors eases slightly. That is one more reason to act on overdue invoices now rather than waiting.

How to Prepare for a Rate Change

Rate changes affect statutory interest automatically — you do not need to update your contracts. The rate that applies is the one in force on the day the debt becomes overdue, and it applies from that day forward (using the rate for each period if rates change mid-recovery). Here is what to do:

1. Recalculate periodically if you have long-running overdue invoices. If rates drop mid-recovery, the interest accrued from the cut date forward will be calculated at the lower rate. Keep accurate records of when each invoice became overdue.
2. Issue interest notes before rates fall. You can issue an interest note at any time. If you issue it now while the rate is at 15.75%, the accrued amount up to the issue date is locked in at the higher rate.
3. Do not wait on formal demands. The 40/70/100 EUR fixed compensation you are entitled to under Article 10 of the late payment Act is independent of the interest rate. It does not change when the MPC meets. Claim it now regardless.
4. Automate your reminders. Rate changes are irrelevant if you are recovering invoices within 30 days of the due date. At that timescale, the difference between 15.75% and 15.25% is negligible. The real variable is speed of recovery, not rate level. For a step-by-step action plan, see our guide: client not paying invoice — what to do.

Checking the Current Rate

The NBP publishes the reference rate on its website following each MPC decision. The statutory interest rate for late commercial payments is always: NBP reference rate + 10 pp. The rate for late payments in transactions involving public entities (where the debtor is a public authority) uses a different formula under the same Act — see the pillar guide for details.

For the latest figures and a step-by-step calculation guide, visit our statutory interest guide. For the exact zloty amount on any invoice, use the free statutory interest calculator.

Automatically Calculate and Claim What You're Owed

Terminovo calculates statutory interest at the correct rate for each overdue invoice and includes the amounts in your demand letters automatically — so you never miss a rate change or leave money on the table. See pricing or learn how it works.