Rundfunkbeitrag in Germany: Who Pays the Broadcasting Fee and How to Navigate It

Rundfunkbeitrag is a mandatory fee for public radio and television in Germany. In everyday language, it is often called the “radio tax” or by its old name, GEZ, although technically it is not a tax: it is not paid by each individual separately, but usually by a single household per apartment.

What is the Rundfunkbeitrag

The Rundfunkbeitrag funds Germany’s public broadcasters: ARD, ZDF, and Deutschlandradio. The money is collected by the ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice—more commonly known simply as the Beitragsservice. Until 2013, the Gebühreneinzugszentrale handled collection, which is why the term GEZ-Gebühr is still used in conversation.

The basic principle is this: the fee is tied to the residence, not to a TV, radio, laptop, or actual viewing of channels. If several adults live in an apartment, only one fee is usually paid for that apartment.

How much will you have to pay in 2026?

For private apartments, the Rundfunkbeitrag is 18.36 euros per month per household. Payments are usually deducted or transferred once a quarter, so the standard payment is 55.08 euros for three months.

The number of residents does not increase the amount. Whether there is one person in the apartment, a family, a couple, or a shared apartment (WG), the fee is the same: one fee per apartment. Exceptions may apply for certain categories, such as people receiving specific social benefits, those with disabilities, or for a second home.

Do you have to pay if you don’t watch German TV?

Yes. The obligation to pay does not depend on whether you watch ARD, ZDF, Deutschlandfunk, or other public broadcasters. The fee is considered payment for access to public broadcasting, not a subscription to a specific service.

After registering your address via Anmeldung, your information is usually entered into the system through the Meldedatenabgleich. After some time, you may receive a letter from Beitragsservice asking you to register your residence, provide your existing Beitragsnummer, or explain why you are not required to pay.

How to Register with Beitragsservice

If you’ve moved into a new apartment and no one there is paying the fee yet, you can register your residence yourself on the official Beitragsservice website: rundfunkbeitrag.de.

You’ll typically need:

• first and last name;
• date of birth;
• the apartment’s address;
• arrival date;
• bank account information, if you choose SEPA direct debit;
• the case number from the Beitragsservice letter, if you’ve already received it.

German broadcasting fee registration form with an English translation

See also: How to Send a Letter in Germany

If someone in the apartment is already paying

In a shared apartment (WG) or family household, each person does not need to pay the fee separately. If there is already an active Beitragskonto for the apartment, the other residents can notify the Beitragsservice that the payment is already being covered by someone else.

This usually requires:

• the name of the person in whose name the fee is registered;
• its 9-digit Beitragsnummer;
• your address and move-in date;
• If necessary, a Meldebescheinigung after registration.

If you already had your own Beitragskonto at your old address, you’ll need to close it or transfer it to avoid double payments.

Where to Find Your Beitragsnummer

The Beitragsnummer is a 9-digit number issued by Beitragsservice. You can find it:

• in letters from Beitragsservice, usually in the upper right corner;
• in the registration confirmation;
• in the payment description or statement, if the fee has already been deducted;
• on the payment notice.

Source: rundfunkbeitrag.de

How to pay the Rundfunkbeitrag

There are two practical ways to pay:

1. SEPA Direct Debit—authorization for automatic debits from a German or other SEPA account. This is the most convenient option because payments are processed automatically without manual intervention.
2. Bank transfer or Dauerauftrag—a standing order with a bank. It’s important to correctly specify the payment purpose and the Beitragsnummer.

The standard payment schedule is once every three months. It’s also possible to pay in advance for a quarter, half a year, or a year. If you choose to pay by manual transfer, it’s best to set up a standing order (Dauerauftrag): late payments quickly lead to demands for payment, additional fees, and collection proceedings.

Who is eligible for an exemption or a reduction in the amount

Exemptions and reductions are not applied automatically: you almost always need to submit an application and provide supporting documents.

Exemptions are most often available if a person receives certain social benefits, such as Bürgergeld, Grundsicherung, or BAföG. Arbeitslosengeld I and Wohngeld alone do not usually qualify a person for an exemption.

A reduction to 6.12 euros per month is possible, for example, if your Schwerbehindertenausweis (disability ID) is marked with an RF. Deaf-blind individuals and recipients of Blindengeld (blindness allowance) may qualify for full exemption.

The latest forms for exemptions, reductions, updating information, and deregistering an apartment can be found at форм Beitragsservice.

Students, BAföG, Erasmus, and Dorms

Students pay the Rundfunkbeitrag under the same rules as other adult residents of Germany. There are a few important details to note:

• If a student lives with their parents, the fee is usually already covered by the parents’ household;
• If a student receives BAföG, they can apply for an exemption;
• Erasmus students and scholarship recipients who do not receive BAföG are generally still required to pay;
• In a student dormitory, a private room opening onto a shared hallway may be considered a separate apartment;
• If several rooms are separated by a common apartment door, this is usually a shared apartment (WG), where a single fee is paid for the group of rooms.

Second Homes and Vacant Apartments

If you have a second residence (Nebenwohnung), you can apply for an exemption from the second Rundfunkbeitrag provided you meet the conditions set by the Beitragsservice. The key point is that one person should not have to pay two full fees simply because they have both a Hauptwohnung and a Nebenwohnung.

An empty apartment is not subject to registration if all of the following conditions are met: no one lives there, there is no active lease agreement, and no one is registered at that address with the Einwohnermeldeamt.

What Happens If You Don’t Pay

Ignoring letters from Beitragsservice is risky. First, you’ll receive reminders and demands; then, you may receive a Festsetzungsbescheid—an official document used as the basis for debt collection. After that, the case may be referred to the Vollstreckungsbehörde or a Gerichtsvollzieher.

Possible consequences:

• arrears from previous periods;
• additional fees for late payment;
• a mandatory levy;
• Problems with bank accounts during enforcement proceedings.

Claims about its impact on SCHUFA should not be taken as an automatic rule: the procedure depends on the specific case and the stage of collection. If you have received an official Bescheid and disagree with it, it is important to check the deadlines and procedure for filing an objection, rather than simply discarding the letter.

Why does this fee exist?

The concept of public broadcasting in Germany is rooted in the principle of media independence from the government, political parties, and advertisers. ARD, ZDF, and Deutschlandradio are funded through a mandatory fee to ensure that basic news, educational, cultural, and regional programming does not depend solely on commercial advertising or the state budget.

Opinions on this vary: the Rundfunkbeitrag is regularly criticized, and the amount of the fee is debated both politically and legally. But as long as the obligation remains in effect, it’s best to register correctly and avoid having the fee collected through enforcement.

Which channels and radio stations are included in public broadcasting

The public broadcasting system includes ARD with its regional broadcasters, ZDF, Deutschlandradio, and joint or thematic programs.

Examples of TV channels:

• ARD / Das Erste;
• ZDF;
• regional ARD channels, such as WDR, BR, NDR, MDR, RBB, SWR, HR, SR, and Radio Bremen;
• ARTE;
• 3sat;
• Phoenix;
• KiKA;
• ONE.

Source: deutschland.de

Radio stations include Deutschlandfunk and regional public radio stations. Deutsche Welle is affiliated with the public broadcasting system but is funded not through the Rundfunkbeitrag, but from the federal budget.

How to cancel the Rundfunkbeitrag when leaving the country or moving

If you’re leaving Germany permanently, you must first deregister from your address—that is, complete an Abmeldung at the Bürgeramt. After that, you must deregister the apartment with the Beitragsservice using the Wohnung abmelden form.

See also: Moving Away from Germany

If you’re moving within Germany, complete the Ummeldung and update your address with Beitragsservice. If someone else is already paying for the new apartment, provide Beitragsservice with that person’s Beitragsnummer to avoid double payments.

Quick Checklist

• After registration, check your mail for letters from Beitragsservice.
• Find out if someone in your apartment is already paying a single, shared fee.
• If no one is paying, register the apartment.
• Set up a SEPA direct debit or standing order.
• If you receive BAföG, Bürgergeld, Grundsicherung, or are eligible for a disability reduction, submit an application along with the required documents.
• When leaving Germany, don’t forget to complete your Abmeldung and deregister your apartment with the Beitragsservice.