Nov 06, 2025
3 min read
The budget law seems to have "pardoned" Roy, but everything is still undecided: the hypothesis of progressive reduction is still on the table.
Rai 2026
It seems that the budget law has "pardoned" the rye, but everything has not been decided yet: the idea of progressive cuts is still on the agenda.
The cost of the Rai license for 2026 was one of the topics of the new budget. After weeks of talks and denials, the rate as much as possible for the Italians seems determined to remain unchanged. No harm, no surprise: for the next year the amount will be 90 euros, as in 2025. But after this session of decision-making, the correct economic and economic strategies that make the issue far away.
License fees: Why won't they be reduced in 2026?
Budget Act 2026 did not make any changes to the Rye license fee changes.
Council of Ministers, of course, the province without applying tax reduction.This means that, barring last-minute changes, in 2026 you will continue to pay 90 euros 90 per year, charged as always on your electricity bill.
In previous years, the league pushed for a gradual reduction in license fees and managed to increase them from 90 euros to 70 euros in 2024. However, the next attempt to reduce license fees further was unsuccessful.
The fact that he did not reduce the license fee is not a simple accounting detail, but the result of a clear strategic choice: to ensure Roy's economic stability margin, which is at a critical point for the company's accounts.
What is "exemption" from the budget law?
Rai's decision to leave licensing fees unchanged likely reflects the company's own economic situation.In recent years, Lai has taken on large amounts of debt and has had to face a loss of income due to the advance payment of license fees.
The Public Service Corporation is now engaged in an extensive industrial and real estate restructuring plan, approved in 2024 under the guidance of the current administration.
The center points of this plan include:
- Merging in some way (the company that controls the transmission towers) with its towers, a process that is expected to generate significant profits;
- Sale of Corso Sempione assets in Milan, an important asset that must ensure liquidity to reduce debt.
Both operations, however, face obstacles.In Milan, building permits were blocked due to an urban investigation;for Rai Vai, however, the Ministry of Finance postponed the final decision on the merger until June 2026.
In this context, a further cut in the license fee would have been risky: it could have jeopardized Rai's financial stability, just as the company is trying to regain balance.
Rai license fee: What happens if it is reduced?
A reduction in the Rai license fee would mean less income for the public broadcaster, which already has too high costs for the production and distribution of content.Without these resources, Rai could find itself in need of:
- Reduce settings in programs and information;
- postponement or reduction of technology projects such as expansion of digital and streaming platforms;
- Increased dependence on public contributions and reduced economic independence.
For this reason, in the short term, maintaining the amount of €90 is considered a balancing solution between the needs of the citizens and the need to guarantee the continuity of the public service.
What is the license fee license fee?
The Rai license fee is a mandatory fee for those who own a television or other television equipment.
Payment is made automatically via electricity bill in addition to the regular supply.
Attention includes a lot to the community at home, they also have a TV.
However, those who do avoid paying by submitting a declaration of affiliation to a financial institution and indicating that they do not have their own television.
There are some exceptions:
- those who only watch TV in the stream on a computer, Tablet or Tabletphone, do not have to pay the license fee;
- However, those who own a TV SMO STR are obliged to pay, even if they only use the device to access Ruplay or other online services.
RAI 2026 money: Temporary stop or definitive choice?
Although the budget law does not lead to immediate changes, the future of the Rye license fee is uncertain.Progressive reduction and possible reversible prognosis.It depends on the evolution of Rai Account, political balance, financial balance and performance of financial operations.
For now, the tax therefore remains unchanged.But the following financial maneuvers can reopen the file, especially if the Government decides to intervene on the cost structure of the public service or the collection system.
