If you watch or record shows as they are being shown on TV, you are required to be covered by a TV licence.
This is regardless of the channel however you also need one if you use BBC iPlayer. However, rules differ from households to households with different requirements for the likes of shared student accommodation.
The current cost of a licence comes as £159 annually and this covers all devices. However if eligible, you may be able to claim all of this money back. Here's what you need to know.
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According to Nottingham Live, those applying for a refund do not need to work out how much they will get back from TV Licensing as this will be done on their behalf with the amount being refunded based on when the licence was issued as well as the the expiry date, and when a household can show the licence is no longer needed it.
To qualify for a refund, you will have to go through a refund application process which should show evidence to support why the refund is being requested.
You can request a refund for your TV Licence if:
- You won’t need your licence again before it expires, and you have at least one complete month left on it
OR - Your licence expired less than two years ago
TV Licencing add: "If you’re eligible for an over 75 or blind concession, you can apply at any time and for any length of time left on your licence."
According to MSE, the TV Licensing website says you do need a TV licence if:
- You watch or record programmes as they're being shown on TV, on any channel. For example, when watching or recording an episode of You've Been Framed on your TV, on ITV.
- You watch or stream programmes live on an online TV service, such as ITV Hub, Now TV or YouTube. For example, when watching an episode of You've Been Framed via ITV Hub the same time as it's broadcast on ITV.
- You watch or download any programmes on BBC iPlayer. This applies to all channels (including, say, +1 channels) on any mainstream TV platform, including Freeview, Sky or Virgin.
They add: "It also applies to watching 'live TV' via internet-only services such as Amazon Prime Video and Now, but only if you watch content that's simultaneously being shown on a TV channel or is actually being broadcast live, for example a Premier League football match.
"But if you only use online services to watch content on demand, such as cat videos on YouTube or Stranger Things on Netflix, you don't need a TV licence."
They also warn that you could be fined if you don't pay correctly adding: "Watching 'live TV' without a licence is against the law. TV Licensing has enforcement officers that carry out checks. Fee dodgers can face prosecution plus a fine of up to £1,000 (up to £2,000 if you live in Guernsey) if they're found to be watching 'live TV' or BBC iPlayer without a licence.
"You cannot be imprisoned for TV licence evasion in itself, although you can be imprisoned for non-payment of a fine imposed by the court."
The full amount, of £159, will be paid directly to recipients by a cheque or by BACS transfer.
You can find out more about the refund process on the TV Licensing website.
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