Do you really need a TV licence and what happens if you do not have one

A surprising number of people in the UK are not sure whether they actually need a TV licence, especially now that so much viewing happens through streaming and catch up apps. There is also confusion about whether not having a licence gives you a criminal record, whether you can go to prison, and what happens if you simply stop paying.

This guide keeps to verified UK facts and points you to official sources so you can double check anything that affects you.

When do you legally need a TV licence

According to GOV.UK and TV Licensing, you need a TV licence if you:

• watch or record live TV programmes on any channel, on any device
• use BBC iPlayer, including to watch on demand or catch up

You only need one TV licence per household, even if several devices are used.

Sources:

• GOV.UK TV licence information: explains that a licence is required to watch or record programmes as they are shown and for any use of BBC iPlayer
• TV Licensing check if you need one: confirms that one licence covers the household and sets out the live TV and iPlayer rules
• MoneyHelper and MoneySavingExpert both summarise the rule the same way: no licence is needed if you only ever use non BBC catch up services and subscription streaming, and never watch live TV or BBC iPlayer

In other words, you may not need a licence if you only watch services such as Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video or other on demand platforms and you never watch anything live and do not use BBC iPlayer at all.

What about YouTube, Twitch and other live streams

The legal test is about watching or recording programmes as they are being shown or broadcast. TV Licensing guidance explains that you need a licence if you watch live streams that are being shown on TV at the same time.

For example, if a sports event or channel is simulcast on TV and you watch it live online, that usually requires a licence. If you only watch on demand clips that are not being broadcast live, the licence rule may not apply.

Because this area can be confusing, TV Licensing and MoneyHelper both suggest checking carefully if you regularly watch live streams from TV channels or services that mirror TV broadcasts.

How much does a TV licence cost and who can get it free

GOV.UK states that the current standard UK TV licence fee is:

• 174.50 pounds for a colour TV licence
• 58.50 pounds for a black and white licence

The licence normally covers a single household. Students and people in shared houses may need their own licence if they have separate tenancy agreements and watch TV in their own rooms.

A free TV licence is available for some people aged 75 or over, but only if they or their partner living at the same address receive Pension Credit. Independent Age and TV Licensing both confirm that since August 2020, free licences are restricted to over 75s in households where someone receives Pension Credit, and that the licence must be in the name of the qualifying person.

Source examples:

• GOV.UK TV licence pages
• TV Licensing and Independent Age guidance on free licences for over 75s and Pension Credit

If you think you or a family member might qualify, it is important to claim Pension Credit first and then apply for the free licence.

Is not having a licence a crime

Yes, watching or recording TV when you need a licence but do not have one is a criminal offence under UK law. The government describes this as TV licence evasion. A person who installs or uses a television receiver, or watches BBC iPlayer, without a TV licence is guilty of an offence.

However, the details matter:

• TV licence evasion itself is not an imprisonable offence.
• The maximum fine in England and Wales is up to 1,000 pounds, plus legal costs and compensation.
• In practice, average fines are much lower than the maximum.

These points are set out in the government response to the consultation on decriminalising TV licence evasion and in information provided by TV Licensing and StepChange.

Sources include:

• UK government response on decriminalising TV licence evasion
• TV Licensing FAQ on what happens if you do not pay
• StepChange debt advice page on TV licence fines and arrears

Can you go to prison over TV licence problems

This is one of the most common worries. The simple answer is:

• You cannot be sent to prison directly for TV licence evasion alone.
• Prison is only a risk if you are fined by a court and then refuse or fail to pay the fine, and the court decides after further hearings that you have wilfully refused and that other enforcement methods are not appropriate.

The House of Commons Library briefing on TV licence fee non payment and the government consultation response both make clear that imprisonment is related to non payment of fines, not the original act of watching without a licence.

So while the risk exists as a last resort for fine enforcement, it is rare and comes at the end of a longer process.

What actually happens if you do not have a TV licence

TV Licensing explains the typical enforcement path:

1. Contact and reminders
   If records show that your address is not covered by a licence, TV Licensing may send letters or visit to check whether you need one.

2. Investigation visit
   An enforcement officer can visit to ask questions and, in some cases, to take a statement if they believe you are watching or recording live TV or using iPlayer without a licence.

3. Prosecution and fine
   If they gather evidence, they can refer the case for prosecution. Many cases in England and Wales are dealt with through the Single Justice Procedure, which means a magistrate reviews the case on paper. Conviction can lead to a fine of up to 1,000 pounds, plus costs and a victim surcharge.

The Ministry of Justice data on TV licence prosecutions, summarised in parliamentary answers and the House of Commons Library briefing, shows tens of thousands of prosecutions each year, the majority resulting in fines rather than more serious penalties.

Is a TV licence fine a priority debt

Citizens Advice lists TV licence arrears as a priority debt, because unpaid fines and arrears can lead to serious consequences including enforcement by bailiffs and, in extreme cases, committal to prison for non payment of court fines.

Once a court has imposed a fine for TV licence evasion, that fine is usually collected through the courts system, not by TV Licensing itself. Enforcement of unpaid fines can include:

• deductions from wages or certain benefits
• enforcement agents (bailiffs)
• as a last resort, a committal hearing to consider prison where there is wilful refusal to pay

Sources: Citizens Advice and StepChange guidance on TV licence fines and priority debts.

What if you genuinely cannot afford the licence

If you are struggling to pay for a licence or have fallen behind on instalments, there are options:

• TV Licensing has a dedicated debt advice and payment difficulty section which explains that they can help set up more affordable payment plans, for example weekly or fortnightly payments using a payment card.
• StepChange and Citizens Advice advise treating TV licence arrears as a priority in your budget and contacting TV Licensing quickly if you have missed payments.
• If you are on a very low income, it may be worth checking whether you can lawfully stop needing a licence by changing how you watch, for example by avoiding live TV and BBC iPlayer entirely and using only non live streaming.

Note that there is no general discount on the standard licence for people on Universal Credit or other benefits, apart from the specific free licence scheme for over 75s on Pension Credit.

How to tell TV Licensing that you do not need a licence

If you are sure you no longer watch or record live TV and never use BBC iPlayer, TV Licensing allows you to make a no licence needed declaration online or by phone. You may still receive checks or visits, but this confirms your position.

TV Licensing explains that you must contact them again if your viewing habits change so that you start needing a licence in future.

Source: TV Licensing page on telling them that you do not need a licence.

Practical steps if you are worried right now

If you are concerned about TV licence letters or fines, these steps can help:

1. Work out whether you actually need a licence
   Check honestly whether anyone in your household watches or records live TV or uses BBC iPlayer. If yes, you need a licence.

2. If you need one, but do not have it
   Arrange a licence as soon as you reasonably can. If you are on a tight budget, ask TV Licensing about instalment options.

3. If you already have a fine
   Contact the court or the fines office if you cannot afford the ordered payments. In many cases they can reduce instalments once they understand your income and essential outgoings.

4. Get free debt advice if you have other debts as well
   Organisations such as Citizens Advice, National Debtline and StepChange can help you prioritise debts, including TV licence fines, alongside rent, council tax and energy.

5. If you genuinely no longer need a licence
   Complete the TV Licensing no licence needed declaration and keep any confirmation for your records.

Key points to remember

• You need a TV licence if you watch or record live TV on any channel, or if you use BBC iPlayer, on any device.
• You usually do not need one if you only ever use non BBC on demand services and never watch anything live.
• Watching without a licence when one is required is a criminal offence that can lead to a fine of up to 1,000 pounds plus costs, but the offence itself is not imprisonable.
• Prison is only a risk if you do not pay a fine and a court decides, after trying other methods, that there has been wilful refusal to pay.
• Help exists for people who struggle to pay, and there is a specific free licence scheme for some over 75s who receive Pension Credit.

Understanding the rules means you can avoid paying for a licence when you do not legally need one, and also avoid far more expensive fines when you do.