seventeenth Feb 2026
Studying Time: 3 minutes
TV licence rising to £180: what’s taking place — and what occurs should you don’t pay
Hundreds of thousands of households throughout the UK will quickly see their TV licence invoice go up once more, with the annual price rising to £180 from April 2026.
The rise of £5.50 could seem modest, however with family payments nonetheless underneath strain, many are asking whether or not they really must pay — and what occurs in the event that they don’t.
Right here’s the whole lot you have to know, together with the true dangers of not having a licence.
How a lot the TV licence is rising
From 1 April 2026the price of an ordinary color TV licence will rise from £174.50 to £180 per 12 months.
That’s an additional 46p a month for households paying the complete price. The worth rise is a part of a authorities settlement permitting the price to extend consistent with inflation till at the very least 2027.
The brand new value will apply when your licence subsequent renews after April.
Who really must pay the TV licence?
You legally want a TV licence should you:
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Watch or document reside TV on any channel
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Stream reside TV by way of companies like ITVX, Sky Go or YouTube Reside
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Watch something on BBC iPlayerreside or on demand
You don’t want a licence should you solely watch on-demand streaming similar to Netflix, Disney+ or Amazon Prime — and by no means watch reside TV or BBC iPlayer.
Nevertheless, watching even a single reside broadcast and not using a licence can rely as an offence.
What occurs should you don’t pay the TV licence?
Not paying whenever you want one is a prison offenceand enforcement is dealt with by TV Licensing.
Right here’s the way it usually works:
Letters and warnings
In case you don’t have a licence registered at your deal with, you’ll normally obtain letters warning that one could also be required. These can escalate in tone over time.
Visits from enforcement officers
TV Licensing officers can go to your house to verify whether or not you’re watching reside TV and not using a licence.
They can’t drive entry and not using a warrant, however they’ll ask questions and will collect proof in the event that they imagine an offence is being dedicated.
Investigation and prosecution
In case you’re discovered watching reside TV or BBC iPlayer and not using a licence, you will be prosecuted and fined.
The utmost penalty is as much as £1,000 (or £2,000 in Guernsey), plus courtroom prices and a sufferer surcharge.
This can be a prison conviction, although it doesn’t normally end in a jail sentence by itself.
Are you able to go to jail?
You can’t be jailed merely for not having a TV licence.
Nevertheless, you might face jail in uncommon instances if you’re prosecuted, fined by the courtroom after which refuse to pay that nice. It’s because non-payment of courtroom fines can finally result in imprisonment.
How many individuals are prosecuted?
TV licence prosecutions nonetheless make up a major proportion of magistrates’ courtroom instances in England and Wales annually, although numbers have fluctuated as viewing habits change and enforcement practices evolve.
The difficulty has lengthy been controversial, with campaigners arguing that prison penalties for non-payment are too harsh, whereas supporters say enforcement is critical to fund public broadcasting pretty.
Reductions and methods to scale back the price
Earlier than risking fines, it’s value checking should you qualify for assist:
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Free licence if over 75 and receiving Pension Credit score
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50% low cost if registered blind or severely sight-impaired
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Doable reductions for some care house residents
You may also unfold the price with month-to-month or weekly fee plans.
Learn our full information right here.
The way forward for the TV licence
The most recent rise comes as the federal government opinions how the BBC ought to be funded sooner or later. The present licence price system is assured till the top of 2027when the BBC’s Royal Constitution expires.
Doable future choices being mentioned embrace:
However for now, households who watch reside TV or BBC iPlayer will nonetheless must pay — or danger enforcement motion.
