Every German resident has met it, sooner or later, in an envelope: a letter from a body with a long name, the ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice, asking who lives at your address. This is the Rundfunkbeitrag, and it surprises newcomers because it has nothing to do with owning a television. It is a household charge. Once you have registered, it fades into a quarterly debit.
What is the Rundfunkbeitrag, the German broadcasting fee?
The Rundfunkbeitrag is a compulsory contribution to the German public broadcasters (ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio). It is owed per home, not per person or per device. Anyone who lives in a home has to make sure it is paid, and if one occupant already pays, a shared flat needs only one payment. It is often called the "German TV licence" in English, but you owe it even if you have no TV, radio or internet.
The amount in 2026 is €18.36 a month per home. It is collected as €55.08 a quarter, €110.16 every six months or €220.32 a year. A rise recommended by the independent commission for the start of 2025 has not been applied, according to the Beitragsservice, because the Länder have not enacted the legal basis. An increase can come only from a new treaty between the Länder.
How do you register your home?
After your Anmeldung, register your home with the Beitragsservice:
- Go to rundfunkbeitrag.de and use the online form Wohnung anmelden. You can fill it in online or download the PDF.
- Give your name, address and move-in date.
- Choose how often you pay: by quarter, half-year or year.
- Keep the contribution number (Beitragsnummer) you receive. You need it for any change.
If you do not register, expect the Beitragsservice to write to you. Unpaid contributions accumulate, so answer these letters. In a flatshare, agree on who registers, and do not pay twice. The amount is easiest to pay by direct debit, which needs a German bank account.
If you are not sure that you are exempt, if a flatmate already pays, or how to register a second home, the details depend on your situation. Moovy can explain the rules in plain English and point you to the right form. It does not register you, and it cannot decide an exemption.
Who is exempt or pays less?
Exemptions are not automatic. You must apply on the Beitragsservice form Befreiung oder Ermäßigung beantragen, with proof. Examples, according to the service in 2026:
- recipients of basic social benefits for old age and disability, or of the basic income benefit that replaced Bürgergeld;
- pupils, trainees and students who receive BAföG or a training grant and do not live with their parents;
- recipients of blind person's aid;
- some hardship cases.
There is no exemption for unemployment benefit I (Arbeitslosengeld I), housing benefit (Wohngeld) or an ordinary apprentice's pay. People with the "RF" mark on their disability card pay a reduced contribution. Second homes have a separate form for exemption.
Is there a residence tax in Germany?
No. Germany has no taxe d'habitation or council tax. What you may meet instead:
- Grundsteuer (property tax). It is owed by the owner on the building. The municipality sets its own multiplier. A tenant usually pays it through the service charges if the lease allows. Check the line in the yearly Betriebskostenabrechnung. See renting in Germany.
- Hundesteuer (dog tax). Many municipalities levy it, with their own rates. In Berlin, registering a dog in the city's dog register counts as the tax declaration, and the dog must be declared within a month of purchase or of your arrival in Berlin.
- Zweitwohnungsteuer (second-home tax). Some municipalities tax a second residence. In Berlin the rate has been 20% of the net rent since 2025 (it was 15% before).
Not every municipality levies the dog or second-home taxes, so check your own town's website.
What are the common mistakes?
- Not registering. If nobody pays for your home, arrears build up.
- Paying twice in a shared flat. One payment per home.
- Forgetting the second home. A second address can mean a second contribution and a local tax.
- Looking for a residence tax. It does not exist, but the property tax reaches tenants through service charges.
- Using a paid website. The form is free on the official site.
When does the contribution start and end?
It starts when you move into the home and stops when you leave, so deregister your home when you move out. If you move within Germany, tell the Beitragsservice your new address, quoting your contribution number. Inform the service yourself and keep the confirmation.
What does the broadcasting fee in Germany pay for?
The money goes to the public broadcasters ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio, which are collectively run through the Beitragsservice. The fee is set by treaty between the Länder, and an independent commission examines the broadcasters' financial needs. That is why a recommended increase was not applied when the Länder failed to agree on the legal basis. As a resident you have no choice about paying, and you cannot opt out by not owning a TV. The broadcasting fee Germany residents pay is therefore comparable to a household tax, though officially it is a contribution.
How is the fee shared in a flatshare, a couple or a family?
One payment per home is enough. A couple living together pays €18.36 a month in total, not twice. In a flatshare, the charge is still one per home, whatever the number of flatmates, and you can agree between yourselves how to share it. Only one person registers as the payer; the others do not need to. If you move in with someone who already pays, tell the Beitragsservice so it does not write to you. If you move out, update your registration and, if you were the registered payer, hand it over. Use the contribution number on all letters.
What happens if you do not pay or do not answer?
Arrears build up while no one pays for your home. The safest course is to register as soon as you move in, and to answer every letter. If you think you are exempt, apply as soon as you can, with proof, and check the details on the official site.
How do you pay?
By direct debit, transfer or standing order, quarterly, half-yearly or yearly. Direct debit is the simplest, and it requires a German bank account. Keep proof of registration and payment, and keep your contribution number handy.
How do the Grundsteuer and its formula work?
For owners, the property tax is the value fixed by the tax office × a base number (Messzahl) × the municipality's multiplier. Five Länder (Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hamburg, Hesse and Lower Saxony) use their own calculation models. Since 1 January 2025 it is calculated under the reformed rules. If you rent, check the line in your service charge statement. If you own, the municipality sends you the notice each year.