Can I watch SVT without a TV licence in Sweden?
Yes — the old TV licence (Radiotjänst) was abolished on 1 January 2019. Instead, everyone with taxable earned income pays a public service fee automatically through the tax system, whether or not you own a TV or ever watch SVT. The fee is 1% of income up to a cap: max 1,184 kr per person in 2026, reached already at an income of 118,428 kr. It is a fee per person, not per household — a couple with two incomes therefore pays two fees, and that is the most common misunderstanding. Anyone under 18 or without earned income pays nothing, and capital income is not counted in the base. Unpaid, it becomes a tax debt that can go to the Enforcement Authority.
📋 The rules
- The TV licence was abolished in 2019 — no separate licence needed
- The fee is 1% of earned income via tax
- Cap: 1,184 kr per person in 2026 (income ≥ 118,428 kr)
- Fee is per person, not per household
- Under 18 or without income pays nothing
🔓 Exceptions
- No taxable earned income (e.g. only student aid) = no fee
- People under 18 are exempt
- Capital income is not counted in the base
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The fee is collected as ordinary tax, so there is no licence offence and no inspector at the door — the big difference from the old Radiotjänst era. If it is not paid, the amount becomes a tax debt with the Tax Agency, which can be passed to the Enforcement Authority like any other unpaid tax. What catches people out more often is the surprise on the final tax statement: the fee is individual, so a household with two incomes is charged twice, up to 1,184 kr per person in 2026 — there is no household cap.
📎 Official sources
- Tax Agency · Public service fee →
- Tax Agency (English) · Public service fee →
- Radio & TV Financing Act (2018:1893) · Riksdagen →
❓ Frequently asked
Does the TV licence still exist?
No. The old Radiotjänst TV licence was abolished on 1 January 2019. Instead, everyone with taxable earned income pays a public service fee, deducted automatically through the tax system.
How much do I pay in 2026?
The fee is 1% of your earned income but no more than 1,184 kr per person per year, and it is taken automatically via tax. The cap is reached at an income of 118,428 kr, so everyone earning more pays the same.
Does the whole household pay one fee?
No, the fee is individual and has no link to the household or to whether you own a TV. Two people with income therefore pay two fees, up to 1,184 kr each — there is no household cap at all.
Do students have to pay?
Only if they have taxable earned income. Student aid from CSN alone gives no fee, but with a part-time job you pay 1% on that income, up to the cap. Capital income is never counted in the base.
Do I need a licence to watch SVT Play?
No. There is no separate licence any more — public service is funded through the fee in your tax. You need not register a TV or pay anything extra, but the fee is taken whether or not you ever watch.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “is there still a tv licence sweden”
- “public service fee 2026 amount”
- “how much is the public service fee”
- “tv fee per person or household sweden”
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- “watch svt without licence”