UK households may be entitled to a refund on their TV Licence if their circumstances change and they no longer need one. A standard colour TV Licence costs £180 per year, while a black-and-white licence costs £60.50, following the most recent increase on April 1, 2026.
According to TV Licensing, a licence covers watching all TV channels, live TV on pay TV and streaming services, and everything on BBC iPlayer, on any device. However, if you stop watching these services, you might be able to cancel and claim money back.
Who can get a refund?
You can cancel your licence and potentially receive a refund if, before your licence expires, you won't be watching TV on any channel (including BBC, ITV, Channel 4, U&Dave, and international channels), watching TV on pay TV services like Sky, Virgin Media, and EE TV, watching live TV on streaming services like YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video, or using BBC iPlayer. A licence is not needed for watching S4C programmes on demand.
Important: Do not cancel your Direct Debit
TV Licensing advises: "Please don’t cancel your Direct Debit" if you wish to request a refund, apply for a different type of licence, or change payment scheme. They add: "We will cancel your Direct Debit for you. Cancelling your Direct Debit does not cancel your licence, so unless we hear from you, you will still receive the reminder letters we send to unlicensed addresses."
How to apply for a TV Licence refund
You can apply for a refund if you won’t need your licence again before it expires and have at least one full unused month left. Those qualifying for the blind concession can apply at any point for the remaining time. Refund applications can be made up to 14 days before the date you no longer need a TV Licence.
When will I get my refund?
TV Licensing states: "We aim to process and issue refunds within 21 days of receiving your application. Any refund due to you will be paid to you by either a cheque or by BACS transfer directly into your bank account. Your refund may be delayed if we have to contact you for more information." They add: "Working out precise refund amounts can be complicated. But we will do it for you. We’ll look carefully at the information you give us and let you know if we can offer you a refund, and how much it will be."
Fines for watching without a licence
Watching, recording, or downloading TV programmes without a valid TV Licence may result in prosecution. If convicted, you could be fined up to £1,000, plus any legal costs and compensation. In Guernsey, the maximum fine is higher, at up to £2,000.
