Serafe TV/radio tax in Switzerland
Quick decider
Do I have to pay SERAFE?
Are you registered (Anmeldung) with a Swiss Gemeinde?
Do you (or anyone in your household) receive AHV/IV supplementary benefits (Ergänzungsleistungen / EL)?
Are you the primary registered household (not sharing with someone already billed)?
Step by step
- 1
Get registered — automatically
Serafe pulls household data directly from cantonal residents' registers. Within 2–6 months of your Anmeldung at the Gemeinde, the first bill arrives at your address. You don't apply — you just appear.
- 2
Check the first invoice
The bill is pro-rated from your registration date to the end of the billing cycle. Verify the household composition is correct — Serafe charges per household, not per person, so flatmates and couples share one bill.
- 3
Choose payment frequency
Pay CHF 335 annually, or split into quarterly instalments of CHF 83.75. Methods: eBill (recommended — auto-renews), QR-bill via e-banking, standing order, or paper payment slip. From 1 January 2027 the rate drops to CHF 312/year (CHF 78/quarter), with a further scheduled reduction to CHF 300/year from 2029.
- 4
Apply for exemption if eligible
Exemptions are only for people who receive AHV/IV supplementary benefits (Ergänzungsleistungen, EL). Start by downloading the exemption form from serafe.ch or requesting it by phone. Attach your EL decision letter (or a current bank statement showing EL payment), then send it back to the address on the invoice. Serafe decides within 4 weeks. If you're already paid up, they'll refund the months that fall after the exemption start date. Students, low earners, and over-75s are NOT automatically exempt unless they also receive EL.
- 5
Cancel when you leave Switzerland
Your Abmeldung at the Gemeinde automatically deregisters your household from Serafe. Pre-paid quarters are refunded to your Swiss bank account — keep one open until the refund clears (usually 4–8 weeks).
What you're actually paying for
The Serafe fee funds SRG SSR — Switzerland's public broadcaster — which produces RTS, SRF, RSI and RTR programming in four languages. About 81% of the fee goes to SRG SSR; the rest supports 21 private regional radio and 13 regional TV stations. By comparison: BBC licence fee CHF ~190, ARD/ZDF GEZ CHF ~250, RAI CHF ~95. Switzerland's is high because it funds four language regions for 8.7 million people.
Billag vs Serafe — what changed in 2019
Until 2018, Billag billed only households with a registered TV or radio device — and aggressively chased people who claimed they had none. From 1 January 2019, the law switched to a household-based fee collected by Serafe AG (a Secon Group subsidiary). The advantage: no more inspectors at your door. The downside: literally nobody is exempt for not owning a device.
How the 2027 fee cut works
In November 2024 the Federal Council approved a phased reduction: from CHF 335 today, the household fee drops to CHF 312 in 2027 and CHF 300 from 2029, with full implementation reflected on invoices issued from Q1 2027. Businesses with turnover under CHF 1.2M became fully exempt in 2025. If you're billed at the old rate after January 2027, contact Serafe — refunds are automatic but slow.
How to apply for a Serafe exemption — step by step
Only current AHV/IV supplementary-benefits (Ergänzungsleistungen / EL) recipients can get a Serafe exemption. If you receive EL, follow these steps: • Check your EL status. Log in to the AHV/IV portal or look for your Ergänzungsleistungen letter. Only current EL recipients qualify. • Get the exemption form. Go to serafe.ch and open the 'Befreiung' / 'Exemption' form, or call Serafe on 058 226 00 00 to request a paper copy. • Fill in the details exactly. Enter the household reference number and address as shown on your Serafe invoice. Mismatches can delay processing. • Attach official proof. Include your EL approval letter, a recent EL payment statement, or an EL certificate from your municipality. Screenshots of online accounts are usually not accepted. • Submit the form. Send it by post to the address on your invoice, or upload it via the Serafe portal if that option is available. • Wait for the decision. Serafe usually responds within four weeks. If approved, future quarters are cancelled or refunded and you receive written confirmation. If your application is rejected, you can appeal within 30 days. If you already paid Serafe, past overpayments are refunded automatically once the exemption is granted.
Common Serafe pitfalls for new arrivals
These mistakes are easy to make when you first move to Switzerland and can cost you CHF 335 or more: • Flatmates register as separate households. Two people sharing a flat who each register as their own household will each get a CHF 335 Serafe bill. Fix: declare a single shared household at the Gemeinde. • You move but do not tell Serafe. If you move cantons and only update your Gemeinde, Serafe invoices may keep going to your old address. Fix: file a change-of-address directly with Serafe online or by phone. • You arrived mid-quarter and assume no fee is due. Serafe bills are pro-rated from your registration date, but an arrears letter can arrive months later. Fix: budget CHF 28 per month from your first day in Switzerland.
Your next step
Turn this guide into action — run the numbers for your own situation, then work through the deadlines for your canton.
Get this as a personalised checklist
Build your free Swiss relocation checklist — tailored to your canton, with deadlines and links. No signup.
Build my free checklistThere is no opt-out for not owning a TV or radio. The 2018 'No Billag' referendum was rejected 71% — the fee applies to every household, full stop.
Ignoring a Serafe bill ends in a Betreibung (debt collection) and a CHF 17 entry on your credit record. Pay or set up a payment plan.
Sharing a flat: only one household = one Serafe bill, even with 5 flatmates. If everyone is independently registered at the same address as separate households, you each get billed — make sure the Anmeldung reflects reality.
People also asked
I don't own a TV or radio. Do I still have to pay?
Yes. Since 2019, Serafe is a household fee, not a device fee. Streaming a Swiss radio station on your phone, or watching SRF on Play SRF, or just being a registered Swiss household — any of these are enough. Owning zero devices doesn't change anything.
When does my first Serafe bill arrive?
Within 2–6 months of completing your Anmeldung at the Gemeinde. Serafe pulls data from cantonal residents' registers automatically — you don't sign up.
Read: Register at your GemeindeWe're a couple sharing a flat — do we both pay?
No. Serafe is per household, not per person. One bill, one CHF 335 per year (CHF 312 from 2027, CHF 300 from 2029). Split it between you on Twint or a shared account.
Can I get an exemption as a student or low earner?
Only if you receive AHV/IV supplementary benefits (Ergänzungsleistungen / EL). Low income, student status, being on RAV unemployment benefits, or age over 75 do not automatically qualify. To apply, download the exemption form from serafe.ch, attach your current EL decision letter or EL payment proof, and return it to Serafe. Processing takes about 4 weeks. If you paid before the exemption is granted, future quarters are cancelled and past overpayments are refunded.
Is the fee changing soon?
Yes. The Federal Council approved a phased reduction: CHF 312 in 2027, dropping to CHF 300/year from 2029. Businesses under CHF 1.2M turnover have been fully exempt since 2025.
What happens to Serafe when I leave Switzerland?
Your Abmeldung at the Gemeinde automatically cancels the Serafe registration. Any pre-paid quarters are refunded to your Swiss bank account, so keep one open until the refund clears — typically 4–8 weeks after departure.
Read: Open a Swiss bank accountCan I deduct Serafe from my taxes?
No. The Serafe fee is treated as a private living expense and is not deductible on either Quellensteuer or standard tax returns.
Read: Quellensteuer (Withholding Tax) ExplainedOfficial sources for this guide
Was this information helpful and accurate?
Related guides
Register at your Gemeinde
Every person living in Switzerland must register with their local municipality (Gemeinde / Commune / Comune) within 14 days of arrival.
Read guideHow to find an apartment in Switzerland
Finding an apartment in Switzerland — especially in Zurich and Geneva — is the single hardest part of relocation. Vacancy rates are below 1% in major cities. Start early and prepare a professional dossier.
Read guideOpen a Swiss bank account
You'll need a Swiss IBAN (starts with CH) to receive your salary, pay rent, and settle QR-bills for insurance, tax and utilities. Digital banks open in a day; traditional banks take longer but unlock mortgages later.
Read guideWaste disposal and recycling in Switzerland
Switzerland has one of the strictest waste systems in the world. Households must use a taxed official bag (Kehrichtsack / sac taxé), follow a Gemeinde-specific collection calendar, and sort recyclables separately. Get it wrong and you'll receive a fine of CHF 100–300 — often with your name traced from inside the bag.
Read guideDone with this? Next:
Sort your waste & recycling system