Regulations governing radio and television licence fees applying to the international organisations and to their members of personnel

Legal foundation

The revised version of the law on radio and television (RTVA) and its ordinance (RTVO) came into effect on 1 April 2007. Collection of radio and television licence fees has been entrusted to the private company Billag SA, which is the official Swiss body for the collection of charges for radio and television reception. Billag SA, which is based in Fribourg, is supervised by the Federal Office for Communications (OFCOM) in Bienne.

According to article 68 of the RTVA, people who wish to receive radio and television programmes – both those broadcast from Switzerland and from abroad – must register beforehand at Billag SA and pay a licence fee. The licence fee covers radio and/or television reception for all persons who live in the same household as the person who pays, i.e. family members, private servants, guests, etc.

Who is exempted from the licence fees ?

In accordance with article 63 of the RTVO, international organisations with a headquarters agreement concluded by the Swiss Federal Council, are not required to register their radios and televisions and are exempt from licence fees.

Who is subjected to the licence fees ?

All members of personnel of international organisations, regardless of their status, residing in Switzerland, must register with Billag SA if they have a radio and/or a television, and pay the licence fees.

Private servants (legitimation card "F") who do not live in the same household as their employer must register at Billag SA if they own a radio and/or a television, and pay the licence fees. Those who live in the same household as their employer, registrated at Billag SA, are not obliged to register and to pay licence fees.

Licence fees

The licence fees for private persons are CHF 14,10 per month for radio reception and CHF 24,45 for television reception. These licence fees are invoiced annually by Billag SA. The amount is CHF 462,40 per invoice for both radio and television (value added tax included). In accordance with article 62 of the RTVO, clients have the possibility of requesting a quarterly invoice by settling an additional cost of CHF 2.-- per invoice (totalling a sum of CHF 8.-- for this annual service if requested). This additional cost of CHF 8.--, is not requested if the client settles his invoice by "recouvrement direct" (bank or postal direct debit) or by "e-facture" (email invoice).

Value-added tax (VAT)

Members of the senior management and high-ranking officials (holders of legitimation cards "B" or "C") may ask for value-added tax (VAT) exemption on licence fees at source. These persons must send a "B" form for VAT exemption at source to Billag SA (procedure : see the information note on VAT), which is exceptionally, and exclusively for Billag SA, valid for five years from the date of issue. Only the above-mentioned persons who receive radio and/or television programmes can obtain the VAT exemption given that the radio and television licence fees, invoiced annualy, are above than CHF 100.--. Changes of status must be announced to Billag SA without delay, in order to cancel the VAT form.

The persons asking specificaly a quarterly invoice and receiving only one of the both programmes, namely radio or television, cannot obtain the VAT exemption because the licence fees are lower than the fixed minimum of CHF 100.-- per invoice.

How to register with Billag SA ?

By sending the enclosed registration form (see below) to Billag SA.

Information

Billag SA
Mrs A. Schumacher
P.O. Box
CH-1701 Fribourg
Tel. +41 (0)26 414 90 96 
Fax +41 (0)26 414 91 93 
 experts@billag.com