As of July 2026, the standard UK TV licence fee sits at £180 per year for a colour licence, following the 3.14% increase that took effect on 1 April 2026 under the 2022 Licence Fee Settlement. That’s a rise of £5.50 from the previous £174.50 rate, or roughly 46p extra a month. There’s no new change scheduled for July itself — the fee is fixed for the full 2026/27 financial year and won’t move again until the next CPI-linked review in April 2027, the final adjustment under the current BBC Royal Charter period.
While the headline £180 figure applies to most households, a significant number of UK viewers pay far less — or nothing at all. Free licences remain available for over-75s receiving Pension Credit, a 50% discount applies for blind and severely sight-impaired individuals, and care home residents can pay as little as £7.50 a year. Below is the complete breakdown of the 2026/27 licence fee, every available concession, the flexible payment plan options, and what happens if you watch without one.
Key Highlights at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Colour TV licence (2026/27) | £180/year |
| Black & white TV licence | £60.50/year |
| Increase from 2025/26 | +£5.50 (3.14% CPI uplift) |
| Effective date of current rate | 1 April 2026 |
| Next scheduled review | April 2027 |
| Blind/severely sight-impaired discount | 50% off → £90/year |
| Over-75 + Pension Credit | Free |
| Care home / sheltered housing (ARC) | £7.50/year per room |
| Monthly Direct Debit equivalent | ≈£15/month |
| Maximum fine for unlicensed viewing | Up to £1,000 |
Why the Fee Increased — and Why It Won’t Change in July
Under the 2022 Licence Fee Settlement, the government locked the TV licence fee to rise annually in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) until the end of the current BBC Charter period, which runs through 31 December 2027. The 3.14% uplift applied this year was calculated from the annualised average CPI measured from October to September, taking the colour licence from £174.50 to £180.
This means the £180 rate is fixed for every month of the 2026/27 year, including July — there’s no quarterly adjustment like some other household bills. The same methodology is set to apply once more in April 2027, which is currently confirmed as the final inflation-linked rise before a broader review of BBC funding under the ongoing Charter Review Green Paper consultation.
If you currently pay through instalments, note that you’ll keep paying toward your existing licence at the old rate until it comes up for renewal — you only start paying the new £180 rate the next time your licence renews on or after 1 April 2026.
TV Licence Costs for 2026/27 (Full Breakdown)
| Licence Type | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Standard colour TV licence | £180.00 |
| Black & white TV licence | £60.50 |
| Blind/severely sight-impaired concession (colour) | £90.00 |
| Care home / sheltered housing (ARC, per room) | £7.50 |
| Over-75 with Pension Credit | £0.00 (free) |
S4C, the Welsh-language broadcaster funded entirely through the licence fee, will receive approximately £100 million in 2026/27 as its share rises proportionately with the increase.
Who Qualifies for a Free or Discounted TV Licence?
Free Licence: Over-75s on Pension Credit
Since 1 June 2020, anyone aged 75 or over who receives Pension Credit — either Guarantee Credit, Savings Credit, or both — qualifies for a completely free TV licence, funded by the BBC rather than the government. Key rules:
- The licence must be held in the name of the person who is 75+ and receiving Pension Credit
- Pension Credit can be in your name or your partner’s name if you live together
- You can apply at age 74, with the free licence taking effect on your 75th birthday
- A free licence covers everyone living at your address, regardless of their age
- TV Licensing checks eligibility directly with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Many eligible pensioners don’t realise they qualify because they assume savings or property ownership disqualifies them from Pension Credit — that’s not necessarily true, so it’s worth checking eligibility even if you think you earn “too much.”
50% Discount: Blind or Severely Sight-Impaired Individuals
If you are registered blind (severely sight impaired) — not simply partially sighted — you can apply for a 50% concession, bringing the colour licence down to £90/year. Requirements:
- The licence must be in the blind person’s name (existing licences can be transferred)
- You need a certificate from an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) or local authority registration as evidence
- Applications go to TV Licensing’s Blind Concession Group
Reduced Rate: Care Homes and Sheltered Housing
Residents of qualifying residential care, supported, or sheltered housing can access an Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) licence for just £7.50 per room, flat, or bungalow per year. To qualify, you generally must be:
- Over 60 and retired (or working no more than 15 hours a week), or
- Disabled, and
- Living somewhere that itself qualifies as eligible accommodation
Housing or scheme managers typically handle the ARC application on residents’ behalf.
Payment Plan Options for the £180 Licence Fee
TV Licensing offers several ways to spread or manage the 2026/27 fee:
| Payment Method | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Annual lump sum | Pay £180 upfront by debit/credit card or bank transfer |
| Monthly Direct Debit | ≈£15/month, spread across 12 equal payments |
| Quarterly Direct Debit | ≈£45 every three months |
| Simple Payment Plan | Weekly/fortnightly/monthly cash or card instalments for households in financial difficulty |
The Simple Payment Plan is specifically aimed at households experiencing financial hardship and lets them spread the licence cost into smaller, more manageable instalments at no extra charge. The government has continued expanding this scheme, with uptake rising by more than 10% as of February 2025, and additional case-by-case support extended to thousands more households.
When You Do — and Don’t — Need a TV Licence
A TV licence is legally required under the Communications Act 2003 if you:
- Watch or record live television on any channel, through an aerial, satellite, cable, or the internet
- Watch or download anything on BBC iPlayer — including catch-up content, not just live broadcasts
- Use any device to do the above — TV, laptop, phone, tablet, games console, or streaming device
You generally do not need a licence to watch on-demand (non-live) content on other streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, or ITVX — the requirement only kicks in for live broadcasts or any BBC iPlayer use.
Penalties for Watching Without a Licence
Watching live TV or using BBC iPlayer without a valid licence is a criminal offence. TV Licensing uses data-matching with sources like the electoral roll and conducts officer visits to identify unlicensed addresses. Consequences include:
- A formal caution
- A fine of up to £1,000, plus potential prosecution costs
- Roughly 160,000 people are prosecuted for licence evasion in the UK every year, making it one of the most common offences heard in magistrates’ courts
If you genuinely don’t need a licence, you can submit a “No Licence Needed” declaration online to avoid demand letters and officer visits.
FAQs
Will the TV licence fee change again before April 2027?
No. The £180 rate is fixed for the entire 2026/27 year, including July. The next scheduled CPI-linked review is April 2027.
I’m 74 — can I apply for the free over-75 licence now?
Yes. If you already receive Pension Credit, you can apply at age 74, and your free licence will automatically take effect from your 75th birthday.
Does a free licence cover my whole household?
Yes. A free over-75 TV licence covers everyone living at the same main address, regardless of age — but only one such licence is allowed per address, even if more than one resident qualifies.
Can I get a refund if I cancel my TV licence early?
Yes. If you cancel because you no longer need a licence, you may be entitled to a refund for any full remaining months, provided no one at your address is watching live TV or BBC iPlayer.
Is the TV licence fee the same across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland?
Yes. The £180 standard fee and all concessions apply UK-wide, though Pension Credit rules differ slightly for residents of the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
