Your Complete 2024 Guide to TV Licences in Ireland

By David Tait Reviewed by Cormac Breen

Editorial Manager

If you have a TV, or any device capable of receiving a TV signal, you must have a TV licence. TV licences costs €160 per year for both homes and businesses. If you are over 70, you can get a free TV licence as part of the Household benefits package. Failure to pay for a TV licence can lead to fines of up to €2,000 or even imprisonment for repeated failures.

Do I Need a TV Licence?

In Ireland, every home or business with a device capable of receiving a television signal must have a TV licence.

This includes:

• Televisions
• Broken televisions (that have the capability to receive a signal)
• Smart TVs (even if only used for streaming)

A TV licence is required for the following circumstances:

• Homes that have a television
• Renting (this applies whether you or the landlord owns the television)
• Second homes that have a television
• Business premises or offices that contain a television

You can have multiple televisions in the same household or office premise with just the one TV licence.

How Much Is a TV Licence?

A TV licence costs €160 per year in Ireland. It is the same price for residential and business establishments.

The initial licence is valid for an 11-month period following the month it is purchased.

For example, if you purchase your TV licence in mid-September, your licence will be valid until the end of August the following year. Subsequent TV licence renewals will be valid for 12 months.

How Do I Get a TV Licence?

Here are the available options to pay for a TV licence for the first time in Ireland:

1. Online
   Visit the TV Licence Secured web page and pay by credit card.
2. An Post
   Go to your local Post Office and pay by cheque, cash, or debit card.
3. By Phone
   Dial the special An Post number of 01 705 8800 and pay with your credit card.
4. By Post
   You will need to include a cheque made out to ‘An Post’ and send it to your nearest TV Licence Records Office.

A TV licence costs €160 per year in Ireland.

If you would like to pay in instalments, you will need to complete the TV licence direct debit form and select your preferred frequency of payments, options are:

• Monthly
• Quarterly
• Bi-annually
• Annually

Be sure to sign the form and present it to any of the above-mentioned TV Licence Records Office.

How Do I Renew a TV Licence?

You should receive a payment reminder from An Post when your TV licence renewal is due. You can use the same payment methods available when you first purchase a TV licence.

The yearly TV licence payment is €160. Only the direct debit payment option offers the possibility to pay in instalments.

Regardless of the payment option you choose, be sure to include the following information with your tv licence renewal:

1. Your TV reference number
2. Your An Post reminder notice
3. Your 5-digit PIN to log in if you wish to pay online.

How Much Is a TV Licence Renewal?

The TV licence cost is the same for renewal as is its initial acquisition.

You do not want to miss your TV licence renewal date, as An post keeps an updated database of which premises should have a TV licence.

Failure to renew your TV licence can result in receiving notices from An post and eventually receiving a surprise visit from a TV inspector.

If you are caught with a device capable of receiving a TV signal and not have a TV licence, you could face a fine of €1,000 for first-time offenders.

How To Change the TV Licence Address?

If you are moving home, You can change your existing TV licence details to your new home’s address.

To do so, follow these three steps:

• How to Change TV Licence Address
• Bring your TV licence to any An Post Office.
• Show proof of your new address with a home utility bill or bank statement.
• An Post will update the licence information at no extra cost.

If you prefer, you can go online and complete the An Post change TV licence address form.

Once again, you will need both your 17-digit TV reference number and PIN to change address.

How Do I Cancel a TV Licence in Ireland?

If you no longer have a television or don’t capture any broadcast signals, you will need to fill out a Statutory declaration form to cancel your TV licence.

Once you have completed the form, you can send it to your local TV Licence records office. You can expect a verification visit from a TV Licence Inspector.

Why Do I Have To Pay for a TV Licence?

The funds collected are distributed and help with the following:

• 85% of the funds go to RTÉ to assist with its public broadcasting.
• 7% go to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI). They use the money to improve adult literacy and offer quality programmes on Irish heritage and culture.
• Balance goes to An Post as commission for its handling of TV licence fees.

What Is the TV Licence Ireland Phone Number?

You can contact TV Licence Ireland on 1890 252 749 Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5.30 pm.

Here are some common enquiries representatives will be able to help you with at this TV licence contact number:

• Difficulties with your online login
• Difficulties with the phone payment system
• Getting a receipt
• Have your TV licence reference number and PIN re-sent by post.