PESEL number for a foreign board member is needed in situations related to the company’s operations. It allows to submit statements, declarations or send documents through the e-Declarations website. It is obtained free of charge by submitting an appropriate application. Find out what else it is necessary for and how to get it step by step.
Table of Contents
- What is PESEL number for a foreign board member?
- Why does a foreign board member need a PESEL number?
- How to obtain a PESEL number for a foreign board member?
- Summary
What is PESEL number for a foreign board member?
PESEL number for a foreign member of the board enables identifying this person. It consists of 11 figures. It contains encoded date of birth, serial number, gender designation and control number. The minister responsible for informatization assigns it ex officio or upon request.
PESEL numbers are assigned automatically to children of Polish citizens. It also applies to citizens of the European Union and their family members in connection with obtaining permanent residence right. PESEL is also assigned ex officio to foreigners who have obtained:
- permanent residence right or permanent residence permit,
- European Union long-term residence permit,
- refugee status, subsidiary protection or asylum,
- tolerated residence permit,
- temporary protection,
- residence permit for humanitarian reasons.
In a situation where the civil registry office issues a birth certificate for a child born in Poland, a PESEL number is assigned upon request.
Why does a foreign board member need a PESEL number?
In most cases, employees or accounting offices are responsible for submitting all kinds of declarations, information, and statements on behalf of the company. Certain individuals are authorized for this reason to sign electronic tax declarations (UPL-1 form).
Yet, there are situations where an accountant cannot submit a document on behalf of the company. In that case, a board member must do it on his own. For that purpose, the PESEL number is needed.
PESEL number for a foreign board member is necessary to authorize him to make declarations. It must be indicated in the power of attorney to sign electronic tax declarations. If there is no PESEL number, the tax office will refuse to register the power of attorney. This is because it cannot be entered into the information system.
The lack of a PESEL number also makes it impossible for a foreign board member to send documents through e-Deklaracje website. This is because it is an essential element of e-signature certification. Such certification is necessary to sign information, declarations, and statements.
Usually, foreign board members use qualified e-signatures, which don’t require a PESEL number. But, for tax declarations, an e-signature certificate containing the PESEL number is necessary. This is confirmed by the Ministry of Finance.
However, the lack of a PESEL number for a foreign member of the board does not exclude signing annual financial reports. It also doesn’t condition the submission of applications to the Central Register of Beneficial Owners.
How to obtain a PESEL number for a foreign board member?
In the case of foreign member of the board living in Poland, the simplest way to get PESEL number is to register residence for a period exceeding 30 days. In such a scenario, one will automatically receive a PESEL number. If a foreign board member cannot do this he can request a PESEL number by submitting an application.
You should prepare the following documents:
- An application for a PESEL number. You can download it from the internet, print and fill out at home, or obtain at the municipal office.
- A document confirming identity of the foreign board member and other information required in the application.
You can submit the application for a PESEL number for a foreign board member in person or by proxy.
If the application is incomplete, the office will notify the foreign board member about it. Formal deficiencies should be corrected. If the application does not meet formal requirements, the office may not process it.
What do you have to do? First, fill out the application for a PESEL number and prepare the identity document. Then, the foreign board member should submit the application at any municipal office. The application is accepted immediately by an official.
If there is a legal basis for assigning a PESEL number, the foreign board member will receive appropriate notification. You can collect the document confirming PESEL number at the municipal office. To be precise, the office in which the application was submitted.
Obtaining a PESEL number for a foreign board member in Poland is free of charge.
Summary
A PESEL number for a foreign board member is essential in some situations related to the company’s operations. It enables the identification of a given person and the use of official online systems. To obtain a PESEL number, a foreign board member should submit a relevant application.
Do you want to learn more about obtaining a PESEL number for a foreign board member? Do not hesitate to contact our specialists.