What is UK TV Licence Calculator?
A UK TV Licence Calculator computes uk tv licence from the inputs you provide. It applies the standard formula to the values you enter and returns the result instantly, without sending any data to a server. £169.50 (2024-25), £174.50 (2025-26).
UK TV Licence Calculator
TV Licence cost: £169.50/yr (April 2024 to March 2025), £174.50/yr (April 2025). Calculate refund if cancelling, monthly cost equivalent, and concession discounts.
TV Licence costs £169.50/yr (April 2024 to March 2025) and £174.50/yr from April 2025. Refund applies if you cancel and have complete months remaining (DD or cash). Blind concession = 50% off; over-75s on Pension Credit pay nothing.
Inputs
How to use it
- Pick the licence year - £169.50 (2024-25) or £174.50 (2025-26).
- Pick the licence type - standard, black + white, blind concession, or over-75 with Pension Credit (free).
- Enter how many full months are left if you’re calculating a refund on cancellation.
- Choose your payment method - direct debit, annual, or weekly cash all qualify for refunds on full months.
- Select why you’re cancelling so we can show the right rules + record-keeping advice.
About this calculator
A TV Licence is required by law in the UK to (a) watch ANY live broadcast on ANY device (TV, laptop, phone, tablet) on ANY channel, or (b) use BBC iPlayer for any content. The annual fee funds the BBC. From 1 April 2024 the fee was £169.50 (3.4% rise from £159); from 1 April 2025 it rises to £174.50 (CPI+0%).
You do NOT need a licence if you watch only on-demand from non-BBC services (Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, YouTube non-live, etc). You must declare this at tvlicensing.co.uk/no-licence to stop the chasing letters; the declaration is valid for up to 2 years.
Refunds are available if you cancel and have complete months remaining on the licence. Common reasons: moved abroad, no longer watch live or iPlayer, death in household, or moved into a property already covered. Apply online at tvlicensing.co.uk/refund.
Concessions: blind / severely sight impaired = 50% off (£84.75 for 2024-25; £87.25 for 2025-26). Over-75s receiving Pension Credit = FREE (since the means-tested change in August 2020). Care home / sheltered accommodation residents pay £7.50/year for an Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) licence.
Real-world use cases
Streamer cancellation
No live TV or iPlayer? You don’t legally need one. Cancel + declare online. Save £170/yr.
Pension Credit + over 75
Many pensioners miss the free licence because they don’t claim Pension Credit. Apply at gov.uk/pension-credit if income is below £218.15/wk single.
Student term-time
Living at uni with own TV / iPlayer = need a licence at term address. Parents’ licence does NOT cover you.
Caravan / second home
Second home + own TV = own licence needed. Caravan or motorhome = covered by main home licence if no live use happens at both addresses simultaneously.
What it handles
- Standard, black + white, and concession rates
- Refund calculation by full months remaining
- 2024-25 + 2025-26 prices
- Daily / weekly / monthly cost equivalent
What it does NOT handle
- Penalty / fine calculations for non-payment
- Business / hotel / pub TV Licensing rules
- Legal advice for specific edge cases
- Refund payments outside cancellation reasons
Common mistakes
- Cancelling before declaring "no licence needed" - chasing letters continue.
- Believing the parental licence covers students at uni - it does not.
- Watching iPlayer for non-BBC content - it still requires a licence.
- Assuming "I only watch Netflix" exempts you - true, but only if you ALSO never watch live TV.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the TV Licence in 2024-25 and 2025-26?
Standard colour TV Licence: £169.50 from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, then £174.50 from 1 April 2025. Black + white licence: £57.00 (rare - very few B+W sets remain).
Do I need a TV Licence for streaming?
You don’t need a licence to use Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, or YouTube on-demand content. You DO need one if you watch any live TV broadcast (any channel, any device, including ITVX or Channel 4 live) OR use BBC iPlayer for any content.
Can I get a refund if I cancel my TV Licence?
Yes - if you have at least one complete month remaining and you genuinely no longer watch live or iPlayer. Apply online at tvlicensing.co.uk/refund. Refund is paid by cheque or back to original payment method.
What’s the over-75 free TV Licence?
Since August 2020, free licences for over-75s are means-tested. You qualify if you (or your spouse / partner you live with) receive Pension Credit. If you stop receiving Pension Credit, the licence becomes payable.
What is the blind concession?
A 50% discount for blind or severely sight-impaired residents (£84.75 for 2024-25; £87.25 for 2025-26). Apply with proof from a consultant ophthalmologist. The reduced rate covers the whole household at the same address.
What is the fine for not having a TV Licence?
Up to £1,000 (England + Wales + Scotland) or £500 (Northern Ireland), plus prosecution costs. TV Licensing officers can visit unlicensed addresses; you do NOT have to let them in without a warrant. The threshold for prosecution has historically been low (~80,000 cases / year).
Do students need their own TV Licence?
Yes if they watch live TV or iPlayer at their term address (halls or rented house). A parent’s licence does NOT cover them. Students moving home for summer can claim a refund for the unused complete months.
Is the licence fee likely to change?
The fee is uprated annually with CPI inflation under the BBC Royal Charter (2017 to 2027). The current Charter expires in 2027 - government is reviewing whether to keep, replace, or scrap the licence fee model.