Bills
TL;DR
A TV licence is required if you watch live television on any channel or watch or download BBC content on iPlayer. The 2026/27 fee is £174.50 per year, set under a settlement agreed between the BBC and the government. Exemptions include households where all residents are aged 75 or over and receive Pension Credit. Watching only non-BBC on-demand or streaming services does not require a licence.
The TV licence is a fee payable to BBC Licensing, used to fund the BBC's public service broadcasting activities. It is a criminal offence under the Communications Act 2003 to watch live television - on any device, any channel - or to use BBC iPlayer without a valid licence. The legal framework has not changed to account for the shift to streaming; the requirement follows the activity, not the device.
The TV licence fee is set by government agreement with the BBC rather than by Ofcom. The current settlement runs through to 2027/28. This guide sets out who needs a licence, the current fee, available exemptions and concessions, and the enforcement process used by TV Licensing.
Key facts (2026)
- The colour TV licence fee is £174.50 per year from April 2024, confirmed to rise by 5.7 percent to £184.50 from April 2025 under the licence fee settlement (DCMS, 2024).
- A free TV licence is available to households where all residents are aged 75 or over and at least one person receives Pension Credit (BBC/DCMS policy, 2020, continued 2026).
- Blind or severely sight-impaired residents qualify for a 50 percent reduction (£87.25 per year in 2024/25) (TV Licensing, 2025).
- One licence covers the main home address; adults living in halls of residence or care homes may need a separate licence or may be covered by the institution (TV Licensing).
- Watching Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video or other non-BBC on-demand services does not require a TV licence (Communications Act 2003, Section 363).
Who needs a TV licence in 2026
You need a TV licence if you watch or record live television programmes - on any channel, including ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Sky and others - as they are being broadcast. You also need one if you watch any BBC content on iPlayer, whether live, on-demand or downloaded. The requirement applies to any device used for these activities: TV sets, laptops, tablets, smartphones, games consoles and streaming sticks. The Communications Act 2003 defines the obligation by activity, not by device type. If you only watch non-BBC streaming services (Netflix, Disney+, Amazon, ITVX catch-up, Channel 4, My5) and never watch anything live, you do not legally need a TV licence.
Exemptions and concessions
Households where all residents are aged 75 or over and at least one person receives Pension Credit Guarantee Credit qualify for a free TV licence. This concession was transferred from government funding to the BBC in 2020. Residents in care homes are covered by the care home's institutional licence if they only have one television. Blind or severely sight-impaired licence holders qualify for a 50 percent discount; they must contact TV Licensing and provide evidence of registration as blind or severely sight-impaired with their local authority. Residents in student halls of residence are covered by the hall's institutional licence if they use the television provided in a communal area but need their own licence for a television or other device in their room.
Payment options and instalment plans
TV Licensing offers payment by annual lump sum, quarterly direct debit, monthly direct debit or weekly/fortnightly cash payments via a savings card scheme (PayPoint). Monthly and quarterly payments attract no additional charge. The savings card scheme allows you to build up credit towards a licence if you cannot afford to pay a lump sum. TV Licensing also operates a payment plan for low-income households on certain benefits, processed via the Post Office. Licence renewals are handled automatically for direct debit payers; check that your bank details remain current to avoid a gap in coverage.
Enforcement: how TV Licensing operates
TV Licensing uses a database of licensed and unlicensed addresses to target enforcement activity. Addresses without a licence receive enquiry letters asserting a right to check compliance. Visiting enforcement officers - known as detector van visits in older literature, though detection equipment methods are not publicly disclosed - can assess whether a television is in use. A confirmed case of watching without a licence can result in a prosecution in the magistrates' court, carrying a fine of up to £1,000 and a criminal record. TV Licensing can accept your Declaration of No TV Licence Needed - an online or paper form - which suppresses further letters for two years. You should only submit this if you genuinely do not watch live TV or BBC iPlayer.
BBC funding debate and future of the licence fee
The current TV licence fee settlement runs to 2027/28. A government-commissioned review of the BBC's funding model is expected before the next charter renewal. Options under discussion include a move to a household levy (covering all broadband-connected homes, including those that do not use BBC iPlayer), a subscription model, or continued licence fee arrangements with updated scoping. No legislative changes have been enacted as of May 2026; the current rules remain in force. DCMS publishes updates to the review process on gov.uk.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a TV licence to watch YouTube?
No, unless you watch live BBC content streamed through YouTube (such as BBC News live stream). Watching pre-recorded YouTube videos, whether on a TV, laptop or phone, does not require a TV licence. The requirement is triggered by watching live television or BBC iPlayer content specifically.
Does my student son or daughter need their own licence at university?
If they live in university-managed halls of residence, check whether the halls hold an institutional licence covering their room. If they live in a private rental, they need their own TV licence if they watch live TV or BBC iPlayer on any device in that property. Your home licence does not extend to cover them at a separate address.
Can I get a refund if I cancel my TV licence early?
Yes. If you cancel your TV licence and no longer need one, you can claim a refund for any complete remaining months. Contact TV Licensing and confirm that you no longer watch live TV or BBC iPlayer. Partial month refunds are not paid; refunds cover complete unexpired months only.
What is the Declaration of No TV Licence Needed?
The Declaration is a form you can submit to TV Licensing if you genuinely do not watch live TV or BBC iPlayer and therefore do not need a licence. Submitting it suppresses enforcement letters to your address for two years. It is not a legal commitment, but making a false declaration - if you do watch live TV or iPlayer - does not protect you from prosecution.
Is watching BBC Sounds the same as BBC iPlayer for licence purposes?
No. BBC Sounds is a radio and podcast app; listening to BBC Sounds - including live radio streams - does not require a TV licence. The licence requirement applies specifically to television programmes watched on iPlayer and live television. Audio content is not covered.
How we verified this guide
TV licence fee figures were confirmed from DCMS's 2024 settlement announcement. Exemption rules were verified against TV Licensing's published guidance and the BBC Royal Charter arrangements for over-75 concessions. Legal definitions were cross-referenced with the Communications Act 2003. This guide was compiled in May 2026.
Primary sources
- TV Licensing - Do you need a licence?
- Communications Act 2003 Section 363 - legislation.gov.uk
- gov.uk - TV licence guidance
- TV Licensing - Current fees and payment options
Last reviewed: May 2026.