Serafe Fee in Switzerland 2026: How Much, Who Is Exempt and How to Pay
In 2026 the Serafe fee is CHF 335 a year for each private household, whether or not you own a TV or radio (Serafe AG and OFCOM, viewed on 13 October 2026). It drops to CHF 312 on 1 January 2027 and to CHF 300 from 2029, as the Federal Council decided on 19 June 2024. Households with annual federal supplementary benefits (EL) on top of AHV/IV pensions are exempt on request. For a monthly budget, divide by 12: CHF 335 ÷ 12 is about CHF 27.92 (our calculation).
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Track your groceries in Rappn, freeThe Serafe fee is the Swiss radio and TV fee for households, and you pay it even without a TV. In 2026 it is CHF 335 a year per private household (CHF means Swiss francs), falling to CHF 312 in 2027 and CHF 300 from 2029 (Serafe AG, OFCOM). Some households are exempt.
Updated October 2026. Sources: Serafe AG (fee overview, invoicing, exemptions); OFCOM, the Federal Office of Communications (amount and billing, FAQ; in German: the vote and fact sheets 1 and 2 of 21 January 2026); RTVA and RTVO articles on fedlex (viewed on 13 October 2026).
What is the Serafe fee and how much is it in 2026?
The Serafe fee is the everyday name of the radio and television fee for households, which Serafe AG has collected for the Confederation since 2019. In 2026 it is CHF 335 a year for a private household and CHF 670 for a collective household, such as a care home. The Federal Council sets the amount (Serafe AG, OFCOM).
On 19 June 2024 the Federal Council decided to lower it: CHF 312 from 1 January 2027 and CHF 300 from 2029 (OFCOM, fact sheet 1). The popular initiative for a maximum of CHF 200 was rejected on 8 March 2026 with 61.9% voting no (OFCOM). The amount is reviewed regularly.
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Who has to pay the Serafe fee, and who is exempt?
| Situation | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Private household | Due | Serafe AG, OFCOM |
| Annual federal supplementary benefits (EL) on top of AHV/IV pensions (old-age, survivors’ and disability insurance) | Exempt on request, for the whole household | Serafe AG, Art. 69b para. 1 let. a RTVA |
| Deaf-blind person with no other liable person in the household; non-Swiss holder of a Federal Department of Foreign Affairs identity card (diplomats) | Exempt | Serafe AG, Art. 61 RTVO, Art. 69b para. 1 let. b RTVA |
| Social assistance | Not exempt: the fee is part of the basic amount | Serafe AG |
If you receive EL, sending Serafe AG a copy of the valid EL confirmation counts as your application (Serafe AG). The exemption reaches back to the start of the EL payments, but at most five years before the application (OFCOM, Art. 69b RTVA). For your own case, Serafe AG decides.
How does the Serafe invoice work?
You need not register with Serafe AG: every household gets the invoice automatically (OFCOM, FAQ). It is normally annual, spread over the year in twelve randomly assigned billing groups, so the month differs between households (Serafe AG, OFCOM).
- Pay on time. The annual invoice is due 60 days after it is issued, a quarterly invoice after 30 days (OFCOM); you can pay with the payment slip, e-bill or direct debit (Serafe AG).
- Instalments and delays. Through the QR code on the invoice or the contact form you can switch to quarterly invoices: CHF 83.75 each, plus CHF 2.00 on paper (Serafe AG, OFCOM). OFCOM says Serafe AG can also grant instalment payments on request. Late payments can cause extra costs (Serafe AG), and after unsuccessful reminders debt collection can be started against one of the liable adults (OFCOM).
Beware of fake messages: Serafe AG does not send e-mails with links asking you to enter account information.
What changes when you move, start a new household or change address?
You do not have to tell Serafe AG about a move, a new address or a separation: it works from the residents’ registers. Report the move to your municipality’s residents’ registration office straight away (OFCOM, FAQ).
- New household. In general, the obligation starts on the first day of the month after the household is formed and ends on the last day of the month in which it is dissolved (Art. 69 para. 1 RTVA). There is one invoice; how the adults split it is a private matter (OFCOM).
- Leaving Switzerland. If you deregister from your municipality, you get a refund for the rest of the period once you give Serafe AG your bank details; a temporary stay abroad while keeping your Swiss residence does not exempt you (OFCOM, FAQ).
- Late registration. If a household is reported only later, the first invoice can cover the open periods, in exceptional cases up to five years; you can ask for a payment plan (Serafe AG).
How do you put the Serafe fee into a monthly budget?
| Period | Fee per year | Per month (÷ 12) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | CHF 335 | CHF 27.92 |
| From 2027 | CHF 312 | CHF 26.00 |
| From 2029 | CHF 300 | CHF 25.00 |
Other costs: fixed costs in Switzerland, average household expenses, how to reduce fixed costs.
How do you track fixed costs and groceries together?
First, add the monthly share of the Serafe fee to your fixed costs, for example in the household budget template; groceries, by contrast, change every month. Rappn, a free Swiss app (iOS and Android) that compares the current promotions of seven Swiss retailers and turns receipts into a spending overview, helps with the grocery line only: you photograph a receipt, upload it from your gallery or enter a purchase by hand, and the app sorts your purchases into categories and shows your spending by month, next to your own monthly average; you can export your receipts as PDF or CSV. Rent, insurance, taxes and the Serafe fee are not covered, and there is no subscription. Rappn is building an AI assistant for groceries: you can join the waitlist.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Serafe fee in 2026?
CHF 335 a year for a private household and CHF 670 for a collective household, set by the Federal Council (Serafe AG and OFCOM, viewed on 13 October 2026). From 1 January 2027 it is CHF 312 per private household, and from 2029 CHF 300 (OFCOM, fact sheet 2).
Who is exempt from the Serafe fee?
On request, households where someone receives annual federal supplementary benefits (EL) on top of AHV/IV pensions; sending Serafe AG a copy of the valid EL confirmation counts as the application. Deaf-blind people (if no other liable person belongs to the private household) and non-Swiss diplomats are also exempt. Neither social assistance nor having no TV or radio exempts you, because the fee does not depend on devices (Serafe AG, OFCOM).
Can I pay the Serafe fee in instalments?
Yes, in two ways: you can ask for quarterly invoices (CHF 83.75 each, plus CHF 2.00 on paper, no surcharge with e-bill), and OFCOM says Serafe AG can grant instalment payments on request. It is best to contact Serafe before the due date.
Do I have to report a move to Serafe?
No, not even for a new address or a separation: Serafe AG works from the residents’ registers. Report the move to your municipality’s residents’ registration office straight away (OFCOM, FAQ). If the invoice shows a wrong address or wrong household members, tell that office or Serafe AG, which passes it on the following month.
How do I budget the Serafe fee monthly?
Divide the annual amount by 12: CHF 335 ÷ 12 is about CHF 27.92 a month in 2026, and CHF 312 ÷ 12 is CHF 26.00 from 2027 (our calculation from the Serafe AG and OFCOM amounts). With quarterly invoices the monthly share stays the same, but each paper invoice costs CHF 2.00 more (Serafe AG).