Rai fee, who can avoid paying it in 2023
Among the long list of taxes that Italians are obliged to pay every year is that of Rai fee is undoubtedly one of the most discussed. Also in 2023 the tax will be found directly on the billalthough in recent months there has been a rumor of its possible cancellation from energy bills (we talked about it here). Likewise, by respecting some requirements, some particular circumstances will remain valid for being able to ask payment waiver.
Rai fee: how the tax works
The television subscription fee is due by anyone in possession of a television set and it is paid only once a year and only once per family, provided that everyone lives in the same house. The tax amount is equal to 90€.
But how does it work? The charge is collected directly through the electricity user, divided into 10 monthly installments of 9 euros from January to October. The modality obviously varies according to the billing frequency of the electricity bill: if it is bimonthly the equivalent is of €18 until the total amount is reached.
Even if there are several televisions in the same house, the Rai license fee always remains at 90 euros a year. We also remember that they are required to pay for it including residents abroadin case they have a television set in their home in Italy.
In 2023, the principle according to which the tax is due remains unchanged from the moment the electricity utility is activated. This means that the contract with any supplier gives rise to the presumption of possession of a television in your home.
Here we talked about the new digital terrestrial.
Who can not pay in 2023
Not all citizens are required to pay the Italian radio and television subscription. Also in 2023 the main categories of exempt subjects are foreseen:
- Who does not own a television;
- Those who are at least 75 years old and have an income below a certain threshold.
To evade the charge you must present a special substitutive declaration to the Revenue Agency, pursuant to the Decree of the President of the Republic n.455 of 2000. But let’s see in detail the individual cases.
Who doesn’t have a TV
In order to obtain exemption from the TV license fee in the bill, taxpayers who own an electricity utility for domestic residential use, as expressly indicated on the website of the Revenue Agency, must communicate:
- That in none of the houses where the electric utility in their name is activated is there a television set both own and of a member of the registered family;
- The non-detention, in any of the houses where the electric utility in their name is activated, of a additional device in addition to the one for which a complaint of termination of the subscription was previously filed for suggestion.
The heirs they must declare that in the house where the electric utility is still temporarily registered to a deceased person there is no television.
Who is over 75 years old
For citizens who are at least 75 years of age, the exemption is recognized by law, but there is an income threshold to be respected. The IRS website states that:
- Citizens who have reached the age of 75, with their own annual income and that of their spouse not exceeding a total of 8,000 euros and without cohabitants with their own income (with the exception of domestic collaborators, housekeepers and caregivers), they can present a substitutive declaration attesting to possession of the requisites.
- The benefit is available for the entire year if the 75th birthday has taken place by January 31st. If the fulfillment took place between 1 February and 31 July, the facilitation is due only for the second semester.
Other cases of exemption
According to the provisions of some international conventions, the following subjects are also exempt from paying the Rai license fee:
- The diplomatic agentspursuant to article 34 of the Vienna Convention of 18 April 1961;
- I consular officials or employeespursuant to article 49 of the Vienna Convention of 24 April 1963;
- I officials of international organizationsexempt under the specific applicable headquarters agreement;
- I soldiers of non-Italian citizenship o non-Italian resident civilian personnel of non-Italian citizenship belonging to NATO forces stationed in Italypursuant to Article 10 of the London Convention of 19 June 1951.
When you submit your waiver application
As mentioned, in order to be exempt from paying the tax on the electricity bill, a specific substitute declaration must be presented to the Revenue Agency. But pay attention to deadlines because there are two important precautions to keep in mind when sending the documentation. The timings are precise:
- The January 31, 2023 to be exempt for the whole year;
- The June 30, 2023 to be exempt for the second semester, from July to December.
Who also misses this second deadline loses the right to any exemption and will have to wait for the following year to arrive.
How to send the documentation
The model of the self-declaration can be found on the official portal of the Revenue Agency (here the methods of access to online services) and can be presented in different ways:
- via the web via the application available on the site (you can also contact an intermediary);
- through Pec (with digital signature) to the address [email protected];
- paper form, through Shipping by postal service to the TV License Office – cp22 Turin/per Registered mail without envelope together with a copy of a valid identification document.