TV licence fee: How do I pay for my TV licence?

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Any households watching or recording programmes on a TV, computer or other device as they’re broadcast, and watching or downloading shows from BBC iPlayer, or any other on demand catch-up service, must have a TV licence. One single TV licence will cover all TV sets, computers, laptops, tablets, mobile phones and other electronic devices in any property. You do not, however, need a TV licence to watch non-BBC programmes or catch-up services, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, videos or DVDs, clips on the internet and CCTV footage.

How do I pay for my TV licence?

There are a number of ways to pay your TV licence, which costs £157.50 per year.

You can either pay the fee in one lump sum or break it up into monthly or quarterly payments.

Monthly, the fee will be broken down into the first payment of £26.25, before monthly instalments of £13.12 are taken for the remainder of the sum.

Alternatively, you can make quarterly payments of £40.62 every three months.

The easiest way to pay the licence fee is online, where you can make a single payment or set up a direct debit.

Alternatively, you can pay by phone 24-hours-a-day by calling the TV licence payment line on 0300 555 0298.

You can also pay via PayPoint by using your debit card or cash. To pay from one of the 29,000 UK locations, you will need to have your payment card with you.

To find your nearest pay point, click here. 

If you have paid by debit or credit card before, you can start paying your TV licence via text with your card securely stored and encrypted.

Text PAY followed by the long number on your card and the amount you wish to pay, for example, PAY 123456789 6.00.

If you haven’t paid by debit or credit card but would like to pay by text in future, call 0300 555 0286 to set text pay up.

To do so, you can follow this link and assess which option bests suits you. 

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You can also apply for a TV Licensing payment card, which gives the flexibility of paying for the licence weekly and fortnightly or monthly from about £6.

After applying for a card, you will be asked how often you would like to pay off your bill.

If you choose to pay weekly and fortnightly, you will pay it off in 26 instalments, and once you have paid, you will have the option to pay fortnightly instead.

In terms of monthly payments, you will usually pay off the fee in six months. Once your renewal date is six months away, you will have one year to pay off your next licence, this time with smaller instalments.

Next, you will be sent a payment plan detailing how much you need to pay and when.

If you do not already have a TV licensing payment card, you can apply for a free one by calling 0300 555 0286.

You should receive your payment card within a few days, and no longer than 10 days after your initial application for one.

If you are aged over 75, you may not have to pay for a TV licence at all.

Anyone who received a free licence up until July 31, 2020, where either you or your partner is receiving Pension Credit, you will continue to have the licence subsidised.

If you think you may be eligible for a TV licence as you are aged 75 or over, and you or your partner are claiming Pension Credit, you can apply by calling 0300 790 6117.

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