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All households in Germany are obliged to pay a radio tax (a broadcasting fee, similar to a TV licence fee in other countries) to fund public broadcasting services. Only certain groups of people are exempt from paying the radio tax in Germany.
In this article, we take a look at the German tax everyone loves to hate, asking, what is the Rundfunkbeitrag, who has to pay it, and is there any way to (legally) avoid it?
In the words of the Beitragsservice, the public institution in charge of public broadcasters ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio, Germany’s Rundfunkbeitrag is a “legally prescribed contribution for citizens, companies and institutions” to finance the news and entertainment programming produced by public broadcasters, “regardless of their actual media use”.
This is a rather complicated way of saying that all residents of Germany, as well as companies and institutions, are obliged to pay a fee to fund public television and radio channels, regardless of whether they actually watch or listen to the content they produce.
By making everybody pay, the government argues, it can ensure that a diverse selection of high-quality programmes is available for all on TV, radio and online, without the need for advertising or commercial networks. Similar contribution services exist elsewhere in the world, for instance, the TV licence fee in the UK, or the licence fee in Switzerland.
Just a point of clarification before we get any further: although it’s often colloquially referred to as a “TV tax" or “radio tax” the Rundfunkbeitrag is not officially considered a tax in Germany.
This definition dates back to a 2018 ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court. Responding to lawsuits brought by people who opposed the licence fee, the court ruled that the Rundfunkbeitrag was not a tax - even though it looks very much like one. Instead, it continues to be called the euphemistic “broadcast contribution” (Rundfunkbeitrag).
As of 2025, the German TV licence fee is 18,36 euros per household per month.
The Rundfunkbeitrag can go up or down. It is periodically recalculated based on estimates from broadcasters as to how much funding they need to fulfil their programming mandate. Their calculations are then examined by an independent commission, which can recommend the licence fee be increased or reduced. This recommendation then has to be approved by both the Bundesrat and the Bundestag before it can go into effect.
The next increase is expected to happen sometime in 2025, when it will rise to 18,94 euros per month.
Almost all residents of Germany above the age of 18 are liable to pay the licence fee - both German and international. When you register in Germany, your details will be passed on to the Beitragsservice, which, within a few days or weeks, will write to you and inform you of your contribution obligations.
However, it’s important to note that the German TV licence fee is charged per household. The rule is: one dwelling equals one fee. So, the charge is 18,36 euros per month, no matter whether you’re a one-person household with just an old battered radio, or 12 people all glued to various devices watching Tatort and Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten.
This means it can work out relatively cheap for large house-shares or big families who have grown-up children able to chip in, but for single-person households, it can be a large monthly expense.
If you live in a shared flat, it’s worth noting that the Beitragsservice will normally send a letter to each person newly registered at that address, even if someone is already paying the licence fee.
If you receive a letter, but you know someone in your household is already paying, simply fill in this online form to let them know. You will need to know the name and Beitragsnummer of your flatmate and provide a copy of your registration certificate.
If you’ve only got a short-term rental contract, your lead tenant or landlord might waive the Rundfunkbeitrag cost for you, but they are not obligated to.
Most people are liable to pay the full licence fee, but not everyone. You can apply for a discount or exemption in the following situations:
Students might watch a lot of telly, but they’re not exactly flush with cash. To reflect this, most people studying in Germany or completing apprenticeships do not have to pay the licence fee, so long as they receive student funding from the German government (known as the BAföG), and do not live with their parents.
If you do not receive state funding, however, you will be liable to pay the licence fee - which can be a bit of a sting, since students living in single-room student accommodation (that is, if your room leads off a generally accessible hallway) will be obliged to pay the whole fee on their own.
Unfortunately, you still have to pay. If you think Bauer sucht Frau is the most abominable programme to ever blight your screen, or even if you’ve shunned all digital technology and live in a hovel in the woods, chances are the Beitragsservice will root you out and demand you pay up for ARD and ZDF - unless you fulfil one of the exemptions outlined above.
Some people find this difficult to accept because the system used to be different. Until 2013, the German organisation charged with collecting contributions was known as the GEZ (Gebühreneinzugszentrale), and the system was arguably fairer.
You could apply for an exemption if you didn’t have a TV or a radio, and since the GEZ didn’t have the authority to enter your premises and check, lots of people used this option to get out of paying the fee.
However, with the advent of new technologies, the limitations of this system became clear. On the assumption that everyone now has access to public content via the internet or their mobile phone, the new system came into place in 2013 and required all households to pay.
Trying to get out of paying the TV tax is far from easy, especially since the authorities will have your details from the moment you register. If you choose not to pay, the debts will keep stacking up, with a few penalties thrown on top.
If you still refuse to pay, it could affect your SCHUFA score, making it difficult for you to take out a mortgage in Germany, apply for a credit card, or get a loan. In extreme cases, you could land yourself in trouble with the police, and even face jail time.
Our advice would be: just suck it up and fork out the cash, then make an effort to get your money’s worth. You could save yourself the cost of a German course by tuning in regularly and improving your language skills.
Your letter from the Beitragsservice that you receive after registering will outline how you can set up payments. You can also proactively head to the Beitragsservice website and use their online form to register yourself.
You have two options:
Both are possible to do online. No matter which method you choose, you will pay the broadcasting fee every three months on the 15th of the month (February, May, August and November).
You can set up a direct debit to pay your radio tax every quarter. You can do this online, by filling out a form on the Beitragsservice website, or by post, by filling in the bottom section of the payment reminder. This means that the full amount leaves your bank account on a quarterly basis.
You can also manually transfer the money every quarter, quoting your customer reference number, or set up a standing order. If you change address, you'll need to let the Beitragsservice know.
Note that since 2022, the Beitragsservice has no longer sent out payment reminders in the post. In order to avoid going into arrears and potentially receiving a fine, you need to remember to transfer the money promptly every quarter. Setting up a direct debit is probably the easiest option.
If you’re going to be leaving Germany long-term or permanently, don’t forget to deregister yourself from the Beitragsservice to stop paying your broadcasting fee! This can be done via an online form. You’ll need your service number (Beitragsnummer - see below) and some documentation to prove that you’re leaving Germany, such as a deregistration certificate.
Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about the radio tax in Germany.
The ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice is the name of the company that collects the radio tax in Germany.
Up until 2013, this organisation was known as the Gebühreneinzugszentrale der öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, or GEZ for short. You’ll still hear a lot of people refer to the Beitragsservice colloquially as the GEZ.
You can pay the radio tax online in two different ways: either you fill out an online form to set up a regular direct debit, or you can manually transfer the money to the correct account (also via online banking) every quarter.
Your contribution number (Beitragsnummer) is a unique nine-digit identifier that you’ll need for any communication with the Beitragsservice, including paying your TV licence fee.
You can find it on the registration confirmation letter you receive from the Beitragsservice, or on your payment requests. If you pay via direct debit, you will also see your contribution number as the payment reference on payments made to the Beitragsservice.
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