How to avoid Billag

Is there any way to not pay Billag? I don't watch TV or listen to radio. How can I get around paying this charge?

Hi there,

In Switzerland, anyone who has a private TV, radio, internet connection with IP TV service (Zattoo, Wilmaa, etc.) or any device capable of playing radio or television is required to pay for a TV and radio license.

If you do not have any such device in your household, you can write to Billag and inform them. They will subsequently stop billing you for a TV and radio license.

While owning any device capable of receiving radio automatically makes you eligible to pay for a radio license, there are exceptions made in the case of TV.

For example, if you do not watch television (via cable, antenna or IP TV), you can request to have your antenna/cable connection disabled and send proof of the disabling to Billag. Simply having an internet connection does not automatically make you liable to pay Billag. Only internet users who are also signed up for an IP TV service are liable.

It is worth noting that as of 2019, radio and TV license fees will automatically be charged to all Swiss households, regardless of whether or not they are able to access radio and television.

Best regards from Moneyguru
 

Billag is no longer the entity which collects TV and radio fees. The new radio and television fee collection service is known as Serafe.

Until 2023 it is still possible to get an exemption from TV and radio fees if you have no devices capable of receiving broadcasts. That means no smartphone, TV, radio, computer, tablet...nada.

After 2023 every household (with the exception of pensioners) will be billed automatically, whether you use any of their services or not.