TV ROYALTY. MEPs voted in favor of abolishing the audiovisual license fee of 138 euros. What will it be replaced by? We tell you everything.
[Mis à jour le 25 juillet 2022 à 09h03] The abolition of the tv license fee was voted by the deputies in the National Assembly on Saturday July 23 last, during the examination at first reading of the amending finance bill. In other words, the French will no longer have to pay this tax of 138 euros in metropolitan France, and 88 euros in Overseas. 23 million of taxpayers (who have a television at home) were concerned. A tax that previously paid €3.1 billion to the state each year. But then, by what will the audiovisual license fee be replaced? To compensate for this shortfall, a levy of a VAT fraction will be done. The abolition of the tv license fee was not well received by the opposition, particularly by the Nudes who describes this news as a “demagogic and dangerous measure”. In question, in particular, the independence of the audiovisual public service.
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.
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.
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.
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