Soon, certain public entities and entrepreneurs listed in the Register of Entrepreneurs of the National Court Register will face a new duty to have addresses for electronic deliveries (e-Correspondence or e-Delivery).
e-Delivery – a new form of modern communication
It is the first step of a long-term plan aimed at allowing receiving and sending of correspondence without the need to use paper versions of documents both between public and non-public entities. What is important, correspondence delivered in this way will be equivalent to sending a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt or visiting the office in person. Ultimately, e-Delivery will replace the currently functioning ePUAP.
Legal basis and purposes of this project
This solution is introduced by the Act on e-Delivery dated on 18th of November 2020, due to the need to adjust national regulations on e-delivery to the requirements of the Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council dated on 23th of July 2014 on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market and repealing Directive 1999/93/EC (popularly: “eIDAS Regulation”). According to the explanatory memorandum of the Polish law, its specific objectives include:
- to provide public and non-public entities with the possibility to use one, own address for electronic delivery, which is used for correspondence with all other entities benefiting from this system;
- standardization of the service of registered electronic delivery, in particular making it possible to effectively share correspondence;
- so called “de-localization” of the delivery process – sending and receiving correspondence can be done from anywhere;
- speeding up the delivery of correspondence;
- ensuring that the parties can identify each other;
- providing legal evidence of service to the parties;
- ensuring accountability and non-repudiation of deliveries;
- creating the legal, organizational and technological basis for cross-border deliveries.
Ultimately – after the e-Delivery system implementation – it will be used in every administrative, judicial and civil process. Thus, its application will be much broader than the currently used ePUAP, the use of which is limited mainly to correspondence with public administration authorities.
E-deliveries – not only for entrepreneurs
From the 5th of July 2022, such addresses should be already available for: government administration authorities and budget entities serving those authorities, public trust professionals, NFZ, ZUS, KRUS, state control and law protection authorities, and budget entities serving those authorities. In subsequent years this obligation is to be extended to universities, the Polish Academy of Sciences, local government units and their unions, public entities not listed above, and finally – starting from the 1st of October 2029 – also to courts and tribunals. – In subsequent years, the obligation is to cover also higher education institutions, the Polish Academy of Sciences, local government units, their unions, and finally – since 1st of October 2029 – also courts and tribunals, bailiffs, prosecutor’s offices, law enforcement agencies, and the Prison Service. But which deadlines are crucial for entrepreneurs?
- since the 5th of July 2022. – new entrepreneurs registering with the National Court Register,
- starting from the 1st of October 2022. – entrepreneurs registered in the KRS before July 5, 2022,
- since the 31st of January 2023 – new entrepreneurs registering in CEIDG,
- since 30th September 2025 – entrepreneurs who change their entry in CEIDG,
- and starting from the 1st of October 2026 – all entrepreneurs in CEIDG.
Accordingly, all entrepreneurs conducting business in the form of commercial companies later this year will have to obtain an e-Delivery address. Entities applying for entry as of July 5 are to receive the address associated with the public registered e-delivery service automatically. Other entities will be obliged to submit the relevant applications on their own. It will also be possible to use non-public providers.
How to avoid digital exclusion?
It is also worth mentioning that to avoid the digital exclusion, a hybrid delivery service will be made available through which an electronic document is transmitted to the public system of the service provider, printed, enveloped, and then delivered to the addressee in paper form. This solution is intended for people who cannot or do not want to receive electronic correspondence from public entities.
Entrepreneur – if you have more questions about the e-Guarantee system, we encourage you to look at our offer or contact our team.