Cancelling a TV Licence is one of many practical tasks that falls to families and executors in the days after a death. Unlike many subscriptions, TV Licensing does not require a death certificate – and if there are complete months remaining on the licence, you can claim a refund for those unused months. The process takes only a few minutes by phone or online.
This guide covers how to notify TV Licensing, what information you will need, how the refund is calculated (including the updated 2026/27 rate of £180 per year), and what happens in more complex situations: Direct Debit payments, quarterly instalments, households where others are still watching TV, the over-75 free licence, care home residents, and what the licence means for streaming and BBC iPlayer.
How to notify TV Licensing
TV Licensing can be contacted by phone or via an online form on their website.
By phone
Call 0300 790 6143. This number is for transferring or cancelling a standard paid licence. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6:30pm, and Saturday 8:30am to 5pm. Calls are charged at standard national rates and are included in most mobile and landline call packages.
If the deceased held a free TV Licence (for being aged 75 or over and receiving Pension Credit), call 0300 790 6117 instead – this is the dedicated free licence line.
When you call, have the following to hand:
- The TV Licence number (printed on the licence itself, or on any payment reminder or renewal letter)
- The full name and address of the licence holder
- The date of death
- Your name and relationship to the deceased (executor, next of kin, or family member)
- Bank details if you want any refund paid by BACS transfer rather than cheque
You do not need to provide a death certificate. TV Licensing will take your word for the death and process the cancellation or transfer accordingly. (Source: TV Licensing – what to do if the licence holder dies, verified June 2026)
Online
You can apply for a refund and cancellation online using TV Licensing’s dedicated form at forms.tvlicensing.co.uk/v/refund-cancellation. The form is available in English and Welsh.
Tell Us Once – TV Licensing is not included
The Tell Us Once service lets you notify multiple government departments about a death in a single step: HMRC, DWP, DVLA, the Passport Office, and others. It is an efficient way to handle most official notifications.
TV Licensing is not part of Tell Us Once. It must be contacted separately. This catches many people out – after assuming Tell Us Once has covered everything, TV Licensing invoices and enforcement letters continue to arrive at the deceased’s address.
Contact TV Licensing directly, either by phone or online, as soon as it is practical after the death.
For more on Tell Us Once and the organisations it does cover, see our guide to notifying the DWP when someone dies.
What documents you will need
TV Licensing keeps the documentation requirement deliberately light for bereavement cases.
| Item | Details | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| TV Licence number | Printed on the licence or any correspondence from TV Licensing | Helpful but not essential – they can search by name and address |
| Date of death | The key fact they need to calculate any refund | Yes |
| Death certificate | TV Licensing does not request this | Not required |
| Bank details (for refund) | Sort code and account number for the estate account, if claiming by BACS | Optional – refund can be sent by cheque instead |
If you cannot find the licence number, TV Licensing can locate the account using the name and address of the deceased.
Will you get a refund?
Annual and quarterly payments
If the licence was paid for in full as an annual payment, a refund is available for any complete months remaining on the licence from the date of death. Partial months are not refunded – the month in which the death occurred counts as used.
At the 2026/27 annual rate of £180.00, each complete unused month is worth £15.00 (£180 ÷ 12). TV Licensing calculates the exact amount based on the date of death and the licence expiry date. A refund can cover between one and 11 complete months, depending on how much time was left on the licence. (Source: TV Licensing – how we work out refunds, verified July 2026)
Example: A licence paid annually on 1 January expires on 31 December. If the holder dies on 15 April, the April month counts as used. The refund covers May through December – eight complete months. At the 2026/27 rate, that is £120.00 (8 × £15.00).
If the licence was paid in quarterly instalments, the same principle applies: a refund is calculated for complete unused months remaining within the current quarter and beyond. TV Licensing will confirm the exact amount when you apply.
For Direct Debit monthly payments, see the section below.
Refunds are paid by cheque or BACS bank transfer and arrive within approximately 21 days. (Source: TV Licensing – cancellations and refunds, verified June 2026)
The one-complete-month eligibility rule
A refund is only available if there is at least one complete month between the cancellation date and the licence expiry date. In TV Licensing’s own words, “You won’t be eligible for a refund if there is less than one month between the cancellation date and the expiry date.” So no refund is due if the licence has less than a full month left to run, or if the licence was free of charge (over-75 Pension Credit). TV Licensing will not reconsider or adjust a refund amount once it has been processed. (Source: TV Licensing – how we work out refunds, verified July 2026)
One exception: holders of a blind (severely sight impaired) concessionary licence – and over-75 concession holders – can claim a refund “at any time and for any length of time left” on the licence, so the one-complete-month minimum does not apply to them (see the concession section below). (Source: TV Licensing – request a refund, verified July 2026)
When you can apply
You can apply for a refund up to 14 days before the date the licence is no longer needed – you do not have to wait for the licence to lapse. After a death, there is no reason to delay: contact TV Licensing as soon as it is practical, and the refund is calculated from the date of death regardless of when you apply. (Source: TV Licensing – cancellations and refunds, verified July 2026)
What happens to Direct Debit payments?
If the deceased was paying by Direct Debit, do not cancel it yourself through the bank – at least not before contacting TV Licensing. TV Licensing’s published guidance states: “We will cancel your Direct Debit for you” when you request a cancellation or refund. Cancelling the Direct Debit manually through the bank stops the payments but does not cancel the licence itself, which can create administrative complications.
Contact TV Licensing first to cancel the licence. They will then cancel the Direct Debit. Any payments taken after the date of death will be included in the refund calculation.
For more on Direct Debits and what happens to them after a death, see our guide to what happens to direct debits when someone dies.
What to record for the estate file
Executors should keep a brief record of the TV Licensing cancellation in the estate paperwork:
- The date the call was made or the online form was submitted
- The reference number TV Licensing provides at the end of the call or form submission
- The refund amount and the payment method chosen (cheque or BACS)
- Whether the Direct Debit was cancelled by TV Licensing or required separate bank action
This record is useful if TV Licensing continues to send letters or enforcement notices to the deceased’s address after the account is closed, which sometimes happens when correspondence was already in the post. You can quote the reference number to confirm the cancellation was processed.
Paper TV Licences
Some households still hold a paper TV Licence – a physical document sent by post. If the deceased had one, you do not need to return it to TV Licensing. The paper copy is simply a record of the licence; the account is held electronically on TV Licensing’s systems.
To cancel, call 0300 790 6143 or use the online form at forms.tvlicensing.co.uk/v/refund-cancellation. Provide the licence number printed on the paper document, the date of death, and the licence holder’s name and address. Once the account is cancelled and any refund processed, you can dispose of the paper licence.
If you cannot find the paper licence, TV Licensing can locate the account from the name and address alone.
What if the deceased lived alone?
A TV Licence covers the address where it is held – it follows the property, not the person. If the deceased lived alone and the property is now empty, the licence should be cancelled from the date of death.
To cancel the licence on an empty property, call 0300 790 6143 or use the online form. Tell TV Licensing that the property is now empty and unoccupied. TV Licensing will cancel the licence and process any refund for full unused months.
If the property remains empty for more than six months, you may receive letters from TV Licensing asking you to confirm it is still unlicensed. This is normal – you can respond online or by post to confirm the property does not need a licence while empty.
What if someone else will continue watching TV at the address?
If other household members were living with the deceased and will continue watching live TV or using BBC iPlayer, the address still needs a TV Licence. The existing licence already covers them – a TV Licence covers everyone at the address, not just the named account holder.
You should still notify TV Licensing to update the name on the account. Call 0300 790 6143 and ask to transfer the licence into another person’s name. This ensures correspondence goes to the right person and avoids the account lapsing without renewal notices reaching anyone.
The transfer process is straightforward: no new payment is required, and the expiry date does not change. The licence continues until its original renewal date, at which point the new named holder will receive a renewal notice.
Shared houses and student accommodation
If the deceased was the named licence holder for a shared house or student accommodation, other residents are still covered by the existing licence while it runs. However, they need a new named account holder to take over – without one, renewal notices will continue going to the deceased, and the address risks losing its licence when it expires.
Call 0300 790 6143 to transfer the licence into the name of a remaining resident. The process is the same as a standard transfer: no new payment, same expiry date.
If the deceased was a student living alone and the room or property will now be empty, cancel the licence and claim a refund for unused complete months.
Streaming, BBC iPlayer, and Smart TVs
A TV Licence is required to:
- Watch any live TV broadcast – on a TV set, Smart TV, laptop, tablet, phone, or streaming stick
- Use BBC iPlayer on any device, for live or on-demand content
The type of device does not matter. A Smart TV, Amazon Fire Stick, Roku, laptop, or phone all require a licence if they are used to watch live TV or BBC iPlayer.
Other streaming services – Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ – do not require a TV Licence, provided the household only watches their on-demand content and does not watch live TV.
If the devices in the property are no longer in use and the property is empty, cancel the licence. If another household member will continue using these devices to watch live TV or iPlayer, the address still needs a licence. (Source: TV Licensing – BBC iPlayer and the TV Licence, verified June 2026)
The over-75 free TV Licence
Households where the oldest occupant is aged 75 or over and receives Pension Credit are entitled to a free TV Licence, administered by TV Licensing on behalf of the BBC. This arrangement creates a few specific scenarios when the free licence holder dies.
If the deceased was the qualifying person (75+ on Pension Credit) and lived alone: Contact TV Licensing on 0300 790 6117 to cancel the free licence. No refund is available – the licence was free of charge. If the property is empty, TV Licensing will mark the address as vacant and pause correspondence for up to six months.
If the deceased was the qualifying person and other household members remain: The existing free licence continues to cover those residents until it expires. Surviving household members need to contact TV Licensing on 0300 790 6117 to identify a new named account holder. If no one in the remaining household is aged 75 or over and receiving Pension Credit, they will need to take out a paid licence when the free one expires.
If another household member is aged 74 or over and receives Pension Credit: They may be eligible to apply for their own free TV Licence. Call 0300 790 6117 to find out whether they qualify and to arrange this.
All other households – where no one is 75 or over on Pension Credit – pay the standard annual licence fee. The 2026/27 rate is £180.00 per year, having risen from £174.50 on 1 April 2026. (Source: GOV.UK – cost of TV licence fee set for 2026/27, verified June 2026)
(Source: TV Licensing – what to do if a free licence holder dies, verified June 2026)
The blind concessionary licence
Separately from the over-75 free licence, TV Licensing offers a 50% concession to people who are registered blind (severely sight impaired), or who live with someone who is. At the 2026/27 rate this halves the colour licence fee to £90.00 (or £30.25 for a black-and-white licence). Unlike the over-75 free licence, a blind concessionary licence is a paid licence – so a refund can be due when the holder dies. (Source: GOV.UK – television licence discount, verified July 2026)
Two points make the bereavement process here different from a standard licence:
- The one-complete-month minimum is waived. Concession holders can claim a refund “at any time and for any length of time left” on the licence, so even a part-month remaining can be refunded – the ordinary rule that a full month must remain does not apply.
- If the concession was held because a surviving resident is blind, the address may still qualify for the 50% concession under that person’s name. Transfer the licence into their name rather than cancelling it. If the person who was registered blind has died and no remaining resident qualifies, the address moves to the standard full-rate licence at the next renewal.
To cancel, transfer, or claim a refund on a blind concessionary licence, call 0300 790 6143 or use the online form. Have the licence number and date of death to hand. (Source: TV Licensing – request a refund, verified July 2026)
Care home and residential accommodation
If the deceased was a care home resident, the position depends on how their TV licence was arranged.
Personal TV Licence: Some care home residents hold a personal TV Licence for their own room. If the deceased had a personal licence, contact TV Licensing on 0300 790 6143 to cancel it and claim any refund for complete unused months.
ARC concessionary licence: Many care homes operate under an Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) licence – a concessionary scheme where the care home holds a blanket licence covering residents’ rooms at a reduced rate (£7.50 per room as of 2025/26; confirmed 2026/27 rate pending TV Licensing update). In this case, the care home manages the licence, and there is no personal licence to cancel. Notify the care home that the resident has died and they will update their records. (Source: TV Licensing – care home residents, verified June 2026)
If you are unsure which arrangement applied, ask the care home directly, or call TV Licensing on 0300 790 6143 with the deceased’s name and address.
What if notification is delayed?
TV Licensing may continue to send renewal notices, payment reminders, and in some cases enforcement letters to the address of the deceased if the account has not been cancelled. These are generated automatically and are not personal.
If letters arrive after a bereavement, contact TV Licensing on 0300 790 6143 to explain the situation. They will cancel the account from the date of death, calculate any refund, and stop further correspondence. Delay does not create liability for the estate beyond the date of death.
If the estate bank account has been paying a Direct Debit, keep a record of the dates and amounts of any payments made after the death. TV Licensing will refund these as part of the cancellation calculation.
Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland
Wales
TV Licensing’s online cancellation form is available in Welsh as well as English at forms.tvlicensing.co.uk/v/refund-cancellation. The phone line (0300 790 6143) operates in both languages. TV Licensing processes, fees, and refund rules are identical across England and Wales – there are no Wales-specific variations.
Scotland
TV Licensing rules and fees are identical across Scotland, England, and Wales. There is no Scotland-specific process. The 2026/27 annual fee of £180 applies throughout Great Britain.
For probate-related questions in Scotland, the equivalent of probate is Confirmation – granted by the local Sheriff Court. Executors in Scotland dealing with the broader estate should be aware of this distinction, though it does not change the TV Licensing cancellation process itself.
Northern Ireland
TV Licensing rules and fees apply equally in Northern Ireland. The 2026/27 annual fee is £180. The cancellation process is identical – call 0300 790 6143 or use the online form.
For probate matters in Northern Ireland, the equivalent court is the Non-Contentious Business Office (NCBO) in Belfast, part of the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS). Again, this does not affect the TV Licensing process, but executors managing a broader estate should note the distinction.
Common questions
How long does a TV Licence refund take?
Approximately 21 days from the date TV Licensing receives and processes your cancellation request. This applies to both cheque and BACS bank transfer. If TV Licensing needs to request additional information, the timeline may extend. If you have not received your refund after four weeks, call 0300 790 6143. (Source: TV Licensing – cancellations and refunds)
Do I need to cancel if someone else will continue watching TV at the address?
The address still needs a licence if anyone there watches live TV or uses BBC iPlayer. The existing licence already covers them. You do not need to cancel – but you should transfer the account into the new named holder’s name by calling 0300 790 6143. This avoids correspondence going to the deceased and prevents the account from lapsing without renewal notices reaching the right person.
What if I don’t know the licence number?
TV Licensing can find the account using just the name and address of the deceased. The licence number speeds things up but is not essential. If you want to find it yourself before calling, check any letters, renewal reminders, or payment receipts from TV Licensing – the licence number is printed on all official correspondence.
Is TV Licensing part of Tell Us Once?
No. TV Licensing must be notified separately. Tell Us Once covers many government departments and services, but TV Licensing is not among them. See the Tell Us Once guidance on GOV.UK for a full list of what is and is not included.
Does the estate need a TV Licence during probate?
If the property is unoccupied and no one is watching live TV or using BBC iPlayer there, no licence is needed during the administration period. Cancel the licence, notify TV Licensing the property is vacant, and claim a refund for any complete unused months.
If an executor or family member visits the property regularly and watches live TV while on site, a licence would technically be required. In practice, most empty properties during probate have no ongoing TV use and the licence can be cancelled promptly.
Once probate is complete and the property is transferred or sold, any new occupant will need their own licence in their own name.
What if the deceased had more than one property?
Each property with a TV needs its own licence. If the deceased held licences for more than one address, each needs to be cancelled (or transferred) separately. Call TV Licensing for each address and provide the relevant licence number and date of death.
What is the current TV Licence fee?
The 2026/27 annual rate is £180.00 for a standard colour TV licence, having risen by £5.50 from £174.50 on 1 April 2026. Each complete month is worth £15.00 for refund calculation purposes. (Source: GOV.UK – cost of TV licence fee set for 2026/27, verified June 2026)
Quick reference
| Task | Contact | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cancel a paid licence and claim a refund | 0300 790 6143 or online | Refund for full unused months only; approximately 21 days; £15.00 per complete month at 2026/27 rate |
| Transfer licence to a new name | 0300 790 6143 | No new payment required; expiry date unchanged |
| Cancel a free (over-75) licence | 0300 790 6117 | No refund available – licence was free |
| Apply for a free licence after bereavement | 0300 790 6117 | Must be 75+ and receiving Pension Credit |
| Blind (50% concession) licence – cancel, transfer or refund | 0300 790 6143 or online | Paid licence (£90 at 2026/27 rate); refund possible; one-month minimum waived; transfer if a surviving resident is registered blind |
| Direct Debit cancellation | 0300 790 6143 – do not cancel at the bank first | TV Licensing cancels the Direct Debit when you cancel the licence |
| Declare a property empty | 0300 790 6143 or online | Licence cancelled; refund for unused full months |
| Transfer licence in shared/student accommodation | 0300 790 6143 | Transfer to a remaining resident; same expiry date |
| Care home personal licence | 0300 790 6143 | Cancel if personal licence held; check with care home for ARC arrangements |
| Paper licence cancellation | 0300 790 6143 or online form | No need to return the paper document; cancel by phone or online using the licence number |
| Notification delayed or letters continuing to arrive | 0300 790 6143 | Contact to cancel from date of death; refund calculated from that date; no estate liability for post-death period |
Phone lines: Monday to Friday 8:30am–6:30pm, Saturday 8:30am–5pm. Calls at standard national rates, included in most call packages.
What else needs doing after a death
Cancelling the TV Licence is one item on a longer list. For a complete guide to the notifications and cancellations that need to happen after a death, see our what to do after a death hub.
TV Licensing sits alongside a range of other ongoing subscriptions and services that need cancelling or transferring. Our guide to what happens to subscriptions when someone dies covers the wider picture – streaming services, software, and other digital accounts. For the Direct Debit question in more detail, see what happens to direct debits when someone dies.
For notifying government departments, including those covered by Tell Us Once, see our guides to notifying the DWP when someone dies and notifying HMRC when someone dies.
If you are managing an estate that includes a property where the licence will continue to be needed, that sits alongside other property-related tasks – council tax, utilities, and building insurance. For council tax, see our guide to notifying your council when someone dies. For utilities, see our guide to notifying your water company when someone dies.