In the Czech Republic, the power of attorney will now be electronic

On July 1, an amendment to the law on basic registers was enforced in the Czech Republic. The new law permits the electronic issuance of powers of attorney. The paper form of power of attorney will also remain, but now people will be able to choose between a digital and paper form.

The Advantages of Digital Powers of Attorney

The government hopes that the innovation will improve citizens’ convenience when interacting with authorities in situations where they represent a person’s interests or issue a power of attorney to represent someone’s interests.

The innovation will also affect management companies or legal representatives. There is no need to certify a digital power of attorney or create additional copies. It is also easier to recall than the paper version. Now, to issue a paper power of attorney in the Czech Republic, you need to contact a notary or go to the post office and have the power of attorney certified through the Czech POINT system.

The amended law introduces a register of representative offices. It will be used to issue powers of attorney electronically, and will also create a centralized system for other authorities to access them. For example, if people want an accountant to represent them on an ongoing basis when filing tax returns with the authorities, they will use it.

How can one issue a power of attorney electronically?

The government has clarified that, for recurring tasks like an accountant filing annual tax returns, a single digital power of attorney will suffice. This digital record, stored in the representative office registry until revoked or expired, remains accessible to authorities at all times. The registry will also offer pre-drafted powers of attorney for various purposes.

The register will also have ready-made forms available for creating a certain type of power of attorney, and you can also register your sample power of attorney there. Using the Citizen Portal and your ID card credentials, you can access the register.

Powers of attorney will be reusable. The register will also contain forms of power of attorney for a variety of purposes. It is expected that this year the costs for the register of representative offices will amount to a maximum of CZK 205 million, and next year, 76 million CZK. For the next two years, the explanatory note indicates costs of approximately CZK 34 million each.

https://www.newstream.cz/politika/digitalni-revoluce-v-cesku-pokracuje-plna-moc-bude-nove-elektronicka