Yle's financing and the cost structure 2017

The Yle tax

Since 2013, Yle has been financed by a tax paid by individuals and companies.

The tax is considered a media fee contributed both individuals and companies.

The tax (of 0–163 euros per year) is collected from each adult with an annual income exceeding 14,000 euros. Those earning 20,520 euros or more a year pay the maximum. Minors and low income earners do not pay the tax.

In 2017 taxpayers contributed a total of 461,8 million euros.

The Yle tax is collected into a fund, which is not included in the annual state budget. A Value Added Tax charge of 10 % is deducted from the gross amount.

The current financing model safeguards Yle’s independence and ensures that the organisation is financed directly by its owners, Finnish taxpayers.

Key figures, Financial statement 2017

Key figures of 2016 in parentheses.

Result and turnover

• The result for the financial year was EUR 6.9 million (-2.9 million).

• Yle’s net turnover increased to EUR 472.3 million (470.9) from the previous
  year.

Operating income

• Total income stood at EUR 475.0 million (473.2).

• The share of the Yle tax of the total profits was 97.2% (97.6).

• The net revenue from the Yle tax was EUR 461.8 million (461.8).

Costs

• Costs and depreciation totalled EUR 468.1 million (476.2).

Public service media and media funding

In Finland the public service media completes the commercial media. In the year 2016 the market of the Finnish media was totalled 3,380 million euros. The share of the public service media of the whole market was 12.5%.

The most common model to fund public service media companies in Western Europe is the combination of licence fees and advertising. Finland’s Yle tax is a unique way of funding.