The radio and television fee: Your contribution to public service in the field of electronic media.

The amount of the fee is determined by the Federal Council. From 1 January 2021, the fee will be:

One household – one fee for radio and television:Your contribution will be used to finance the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR) as well as radio and television programmes by local and regional providers in all language regions of Switzerland. This will enable you to benefit daily from a high-quality public service in the area of electronic media.

The first mandate (starting on January 2019) ended on 31 December 2025.SERAFE AG will continue to collect the household radio and television fee for the federal government after 2025. On 14 September 2024, the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) awarded SERAFE AG the mandate for the period 2026 to 2034 following an open tender process. Their bid offered the best price-performance ratio.

Information

Reduction of the household fee from January 1, 2027

The amount of the radio and television license fee (household fee) is set by the Federal Council or can be influenced by a vote of the Swiss people. On March 8, 2026, the Swiss electorate decided on the initiative “200 francs is enough!” (SRG SSR Initiative). Regardless of the outcome of this vote, the household fee will be reduced annually from CHF 335.00 to CHF 312.00 per private household, effective January 1, 2027, by order of the Federal Council. The Federal Council has established the annual invoice as the standard for collecting the household fee. Accordingly, starting with the February 2026 invoice period, SERAFE AG's invoices will include payment periods that already reflect this requirement. The affected contribution periods, with their respective adjusted contribution rates, are shown individually on the invoices from the collection agency: • Contribution periods until December 31, 2026: Annual rate CHF 335.00 per private household • Contribution periods from January 1, 2027: Annual rate CHF 312.00 per private household The contribution rates set by the Federal Council since the current contribution system came into effect on January 1, 2019 are listed individually on the reverse side of the collection agency's invoices.

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SERAFE AG

Warning about phishing attacks

There has been an increase in phishing attacks in Switzerland recently. The phishing warning refers to a type of fraud in which attackers attempt to distribute malware, steal personal data or financial information, or obtain financial transactions. They do this by posing as a trustworthy institution. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has issued repeated warnings about this. Customers of SERAFE AG may also be affected; so please be careful. SERAFE AG does not send E-Mails containing links asking customers to enter account information, nor does it ask customers to make payments by TWINT.

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Invoices with amounts exceeding the regular annual invoice

SERAFE AG fulfils its legal mandate exclusively on the basis of the data transmitted to it on a monthly basis by the relevant municipal and cantonal residents' registration offices. When a household is reported to the collection agency for the first time – with retroactive effect for previously unrecorded household fee periods – an initial invoice is issued for all outstanding periods or for all periods not yet invoiced for the payment of the household fee. In exceptional cases, this may include a retroactive calculation of the household fee for up to five years. In such cases, affected household members have the option of applying for a partial payment agreement for the total amount owed. We recommend using the contact form on the SERAFE AG website for this purpose.

CONTACT FORM

Information

Would you prefer quarterly invoicing?

The Federal Council has defined annual invoicing as standard for the household fee. You can switch to quarterly invoicing at any time. A QR code is provided to you above the payment section on your invoice. You can adjust your personal settings via this code. You can also get in touch with us via our contact form and request quarterly invoicing.

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Question about invoicing

Where do I have to report an incorrect invoicing address?

Should you notice any errors in your personal data, address and/or the listed members of your household on your invoice, please inform the residents’ registration office of your council as soon as possible. For all other matters, our customer service desk will be happy to help.

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Question about invoicing

Starting June 2022 Serafe will send out QR-bills only

Since June 2022, customers of the collection office for the radio and television fee have been receiving their fee invoice in the form of a QR invoice. The QR-bill consists of a payment section and a receipt. The Swiss QR Code contains all relevant information for a seamless, automatic and efficient payment and settlement.

Question about invoicing

Why is there more than one name on my invoice?

All adult members of your private household who are required to pay the fee are listed on the fee invoice and are jointly liable for payment of the household fee.

Legal

The collection agency

Bids to become the new Swiss collection agency for the radio and television fee were evaluated by the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM), on behalf of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC), as part of a public tender.

Since January 1, 2019, SERAFE AG has been authorized to collect the levy from Swiss households. The revenue-based fee for businesses will be collected by the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) from this date.