It now costs £174.50 a year to have a TV licence, which allows you to legally watch live TV or anything, whether it is on catch-up or live, or BBC iPlayer
The price of a TV licence went up earlier this year, but you may be eligible for a refund.
It now costs £174.50 a year to have a TV licence, which allows you to legally watch live TV or anything, whether it is on catch-up or live, or BBC iPlayer.
However, if you don’t need your TV licence anymore before it expires, then you could be entitled to a refund. For example, you may not need a TV licence anymore if you’re moving to an address that already has a TV licence.
You will normally be covered if the person who has a TV licence is your spouse, partner, family member or joint tenancy or joint mortgage holder.
If you turn aged 75 and you claim Pension Credit, then you are entitled to a free TV licence, so you can apply for a refund for any remaining months after your 75th birthday.
If you are moving into residential care or sheltered accommodation, then you may also be entitled to a refund, as you are eligible for a concessionary TV licence which costs £7.50 per room, flat or bungalow.
You would also be able to cancel your TV licence if you are moving abroad. Finally, if you no longer watch live TV shows or BBC iPlayer, then you would also be able to get a refund on your TV licence.
You don’t need a TV licence if you only watch shows on catch-up using streaming services that aren’t BBC iPlayer. This includes Netflix, Amazon Prime, ITVX, Disney Plus, YouTube, All 4 or My5 – then you don’t need a TV licence.
However, you would need a TV licence if you’re tuning into live shows through these services. How much money you could be owed back depends on how long is left on your existing TV licence.
You must have at least one month left on your TV licence to apply for a refund. If you don’t need a TV licence, you can fill in a declaration on the TV Licensing website. TV licence is paid either monthly, quarterly or yearly.
If you’re caught watching TV programmes that require a TV licence, then you could be fined up to £1,000. The maximum fine is £2,000 in Guernsey, plus any legal costs or compensation you may be ordered to pay.
Your TV licence covers you when watching content on a regular television set, laptop, computer, tablet or phone.
Who can cancel their TV licence?
- You won’t need your licence again before it expires and you have one month or more left on it
- You no longer watch live on all TV channels, watch live TV on streaming services, or use BBC iPlayer
- You’re moving to an address that already has a TV Licence
- You have two licences for the same address
- The licence holder has died
- You’re living with someone aged 75 or over who is eligible for a free TV Licence
- You’re moving into a care home;
- You’re moving abroad
