What is the difference between KRS, NIP and REGON?

KRS is the court-register entry number, 10 digits, and only legal entities have one. NIP is the 10-digit checksummed tax number that every business has, including sole traders, and is the EU VAT number when prefixed with PL. REGON is the 9 or 14-digit statistical number issued by the GUS statistics office.

Why can I not find a Polish business in the KRS?

It is most likely a sole trader. Polish sole traders register in CEIDG, a separate central register, not the KRS. This is the most common mistake in Polish KYB.

Does Prometiam serve Polish directors or beneficial owners?

No. Polish coverage is company-level from the KRS - name, KRS, NIP, REGON, address, legal form and status. Polish directors, CRBR beneficial ownership and the KRZ debtor register are not served.

What is the KRS? Poland's National Court Register

The Krajowy Rejestr Sądowy is Poland's register of legal entities — limited companies, joint-stock companies, partnerships, foundations and associations — maintained by the district courts and public to search. Sole traders are not in the KRS; they register separately in CEIDG, which is the single most common mistake in Polish KYB.

Three identifiers

KRS is the 10-digit court-register entry number, held only by legal entities. NIP is the 10-digit checksummed tax number every business has, including sole traders, and is the EU VAT number when prefixed PL. REGON is the 9 or 14-digit statistical number from GUS. For verification, NIP is usually the most useful key: it exists for every business, validates offline, and doubles as the VAT number.

What the KRS publishes

Company name, KRS/NIP/REGON, registered address, legal form, share capital, status, and the management board with representation rules — whether a single signature binds the company. Poland separately maintains CRBR for beneficial ownership and KRZ for debtors.

Querying Polish companies

Prometiam serves Polish legal entities from the KRS at company level alongside Spain, France, the UK, Ireland and Norway under one key. Polish directors, CRBR beneficial ownership, KRZ and CEIDG sole traders are not served.

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Official source: the Polish Ministry of Justice KRS API

Frequently asked questions

What is the KRS?: The Krajowy Rejestr Sadowy, or National Court Register, is Poland's register of legal entities - limited companies, joint-stock companies, partnerships, foundations and associations. It is maintained by the district courts and is public and free to search. Sole traders are not in the KRS; they register in CEIDG.
What is the difference between KRS, NIP and REGON?: KRS is the court-register entry number, 10 digits, and only legal entities have one. NIP is the 10-digit checksummed tax number that every business has, including sole traders, and is the EU VAT number when prefixed with PL. REGON is the 9 or 14-digit statistical number issued by the GUS statistics office.
Why can I not find a Polish business in the KRS?: It is most likely a sole trader. Polish sole traders register in CEIDG, a separate central register, not the KRS. This is the most common mistake in Polish KYB.
Does Prometiam serve Polish directors or beneficial owners?: No. Polish coverage is company-level from the KRS - name, KRS, NIP, REGON, address, legal form and status. Polish directors, CRBR beneficial ownership and the KRZ debtor register are not served.