TV ROYALTY. Emmanuel Macron should abolish the television license fee paid by 28 million French people. What gain? We tell you everything.
[Mis à jour le 18 mai 2022 à 09h28] A tax that has gone almost unnoticed on your tax return for many years, the TV license fee will be abolished this year by Emmanuel Macron! It was a campaign promise from the current head of state, it should be kept. A significant financial windfall that the executive will have to try to compensate. Indeed, this audiovisual royalty made it possible to collect more than 3.1 billion euros each year. In total, 28 million taxpayers were subject to it. As a reminder, each tax household with a television set in its home was obliged to pay this tv fee.
The TV license fee is a tax used to finance public broadcasting. Households that have a similar device (video recorder, DVD player or video projector) equipped with a tuner and connected to a screen, for example, are also concerned. The contribution to public broadcasting is due for a tax household, regardless of the number of televisions and residences subject to the housing tax. The amount of the contribution to public broadcasting (CAP) is 138 euros in mainland France and 88 euros in the overseas departments. The deadline was set for November 20. You therefore expose yourself to an increase in the contribution to public broadcasting.
You discover that you are liable for the TV license fee and want to know if there are any exemption situations? Here are the taxpayers who are not subject to this tax:
- You benefit from the AAH and your income does not exceed a ceiling.
- You are disabled or live with a disabled person: exemption is possible, again subject to income.
- Your reference tax income is equal to 0.
- You are under 21 (or under 25 and studying) and are still attached to your parents’ tax household.
- You are over 60 or you are a widow (or widower): it is possible to benefit from an exemption subject to income (see below).
- You receive the minimum old age (ASPA) or the UPS.
- You live in an nursing home or a retirement home.
Remember that the reference tax income must also not exceed certain ceilings. Here are the reference tax income limits not to be exceeded:
- 1 share: 11,120 euros
- 1.5 shares: 14,089 euros
- 2 units: €17,058
- 2.5 units: €20,027
- 3 shares: 22,996 euros
In 2021the public audiovisual contribution amounts to 138 euros, for everyone and regardless of the composition of your household or the number of television sets. This is the same rate as last year’s TV license fee. Overseas, it is lower since it stands at 88 euros. As a reminder, the contribution to public broadcasting must be paid each year. Since 2005, it is backed by the housing tax. Its amount is therefore entered on local tax notice.
The TV license fee is paid at the same time as the residence tax. If you are one of the households totally exempt thanks to the abolition of local tax on main residences, you will still receive a council tax notice, notifying you that you have nothing to pay, but that you must still pay the TV license fee. Payment deadline is November 15 (November 20 if paying online). Remember that a 10% surcharge applies in the event of late payment.