'Broadcasting Fee in Germany: Who Pays, How Much It Costs, and How to

Rundfunkbeitrag in Germany: Mandatory Radio and Television Fee

Rundfunkbeitrag — a mandatory fee for public television and radio broadcasting in Germany. In 2026, the standard rate for private residences is 18.36 euros per month, which amounts to 55.08 euros per quarter or 220.32 euros per year. The fee is not based on owning a TV, radio, or internet connection, but on the mere fact that a person lives in an apartment or house.

The rule is simple: one apartment—one fee. It doesn’t matter how many people are registered at the address or how many devices are in the home. If one resident is already paying the fee, the others should not pay a second time but should provide the Beitragsservice with the payer’s number.

There are exceptions, but they require a formal application. Exemptions or reductions in the fee are possible, for example, for recipients of certain social benefits, students receiving BAföG, and people with an RF notation on their Behindertenausweis.

On what basis is the Rundfunkbeitrag collected?

The fee is based on the Rundfunkbeitragsstaatsvertrag (RBStV)—a state treaty among the federal states regarding the financing of public broadcasting. The money is collected by ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice; this is not a tax agency, but a joint service provided by ARD, ZDF, and Deutschlandradio.

The old name GEZ-Gebühr is still commonly used in everyday speech, but formally, GEZ is no longer the correct term. Nowadays, it is correct to say Rundfunkbeitrag or Beitrag für den öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunk.

The funds collected go toward financing public broadcasting: the regional broadcasters ARD, ZDF, Deutschlandradio, and their affiliated programs. The idea behind the system is that public channels should be funded independently of the direct state budget and commercial subscriptions.

Who Must Pay

The payer is considered to be the adult owner or resident of the apartment. In practice, Beitragsservice receives the data after registration at the place of residence and sends a letter requesting that the residence be registered or confirming that the fee is already being paid.

You must pay if:

You live in a separate apartment or house;
the apartment is not registered to another payer;
You have not applied for an exemption or a reduction in the fee;
You are a student, employee, retiree, or freelancer who is not eligible for an exemption.

It doesn’t matter whether you watch German TV, understand German, or even own a TV. The fee is tied to the residence, not to actual viewing of programs.

How to Register and Pay

If you haven’t received a letter yet after moving, but no one is paying for the apartment, it’s best to register the apartment yourself by clicking Wohnung anmelden on the official Rundfunkbeitrag website. The longer you wait, the higher the risk of receiving a demand to pay for past months.

The following payment options are usually available:

Frequency	Amount for a monthly fee of 18.36 euros
Quarterly	55.08 euros
Every six months	110.16 euros
Once a year	220.32 euros

Payments are most often made by bank transfer or via SEPA direct debit, where the amount is debited automatically. To change your address, bank account, or payment method, use the Änderung zum Beitragskonto form. When leaving Germany or no longer being required to pay, submit a Wohnung abmelden form.

If letters were sent to multiple residents

Migrants often find themselves in a situation where spouses, neighbors, or partners receive separate letters for the same apartment. This does not mean they have to pay twice.

What to do:

Find the current payer’s number—the Beitragsnummer. It consists of 9 digits and is listed in letters, confirmations, or bank statements.
In your reply to the letter, include the Aktenzeichen from the original letter.
Indicate that the residence is already being paid for by someone else by selecting the option for shared living, such as Mitbewohner.
If necessary, attach proof of joint registration at the address.

Simply ignoring the second letter is risky. The service may continue to accrue charges and then issue a demand for payment and additional fees.

Beitragsnummer for Renters

If you’re renting a room or an apartment, ask your landlord or the primary tenant whether the Rundfunkbeitrag is paid for that residence. If it is, ask for the Beitragsnummer and provide it to Beitragsservice as confirmation that you don’t need a separate bill.

If no one is paying for the apartment, the residence must be registered under one of the residents. Within a family or shared apartment (WG), residents can agree on who will be the official payer and split the costs among themselves informally.

What Happens If You Don’t Pay

The Rundfunkbeitrag does not disappear just because you didn’t receive a letter. If you are obligated to pay, Beitragsservice can retroactively assess the debt.

If payment is late, the following may occur:

a demand to pay for all missed periods;
Säumniszuschlag — late payment surcharge;
Festsetzungsbescheid, which may serve as the basis for enforced collection;
Further referral of the case to the competent authorities for collection.

This is particularly troublesome for foreigners: debts and collection actions can complicate everyday and financial matters, such as renting, banking, or credit checks. While it’s not accurate to claim that any late payment automatically damages your SCHUFA credit score, it’s still not worth letting the matter escalate to collection.

Can you pay in cash?

The standard payment methods are bank transfer or SEPA direct debit. The option to pay in cash is limited in practice and requires a separate request. If a person does not have a bank account through no fault of their own, Beitragsservice may consider an individual payment arrangement; this usually requires explaining the situation and providing proof that banks have refused to open an account.

If you have a bank account, don’t count on paying in cash as a way to avoid the standard procedure.

Who is eligible for an exemption or reduction

Exemptions are not granted automatically. Even if a person receives benefits, they must submit an application for Befreiung von der Rundfunkbeitragspflicht and attach supporting documents.

Common reasons:

receiving Bürgergeld, Sozialhilfe, Grundsicherung im Alter, or other specified social benefits;
BAföG or Berufsausbildungsbeihilfe, provided the eligibility requirements are met;
living in a nursing home or a full-time residential care facility;
Special provisions apply for people with disabilities.

People with an RF notation on their Behindertenausweis can request not a full exemption, but a reduction to 6.12 euros per month—which is one-third of the standard fee.

If the basis for the exemption has ended, you must notify Beitragsservice and resume payments.

How to Apply for an Exemption Through the Jobcenter or Another Agency

If the Jobcenter or another agency has issued a Bescheinigung zur Vorlage beim Beitragsservice, this document alone is not sufficient. It must be submitted along with the application for exemption.

The procedure is usually as follows:

Open the Befreiung oder Ermäßigung beantragen form on the Rundfunkbeitrag website.
Fill out the application online or complete the paper form.
Sign the application.
Attach a copy of the Bescheid or a special Bescheinigung for Beitragsservice.
Send the documents to Beitragsservice.
After confirmation, keep track of the exemption’s expiration date and renew it with a new Bescheid.

The exemption is valid only for the period specified in the supporting document. If the benefit has been extended, the application must also be updated for the next period.

Second Homes and Vacant Apartments

For a Nebenwohnung, you can request an exemption if the Rundfunkbeitrag is already being paid for your primary residence and the conditions are met. This applies, for example, when someone works in another city and rents a second apartment solely for workdays.

An empty apartment is exempt from the fee 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. If even one of these conditions changes, the obligation to pay may arise again.

Rundfunkbeitrag for Businesses

Companies, institutions, freelancers, and the self-employed can also pay the Rundfunkbeitrag. For businesses, the amount depends on the number of socially insured employees at each Betriebsstätte. Mini-jobs and students in Ausbildung are usually not counted when calculating the number of employees.

Employees per Betriebsstätte	Number of contributions	Amount per month
0–8	1/3	6.12 euros
9–19	1	18.36 euros
20–49	2	36.72 euros
50–249	5	91.80 euros
250–499	10	183.60 euros
500–999	20	367.20 euros
1,000–4,999	40	734.40 euros
5,000–9,999	80	1,468.80 euros
10,000–19,999	120	2,203.20 euros
20,000 and up	180	3,304.80 euros

For each taxable business location, one non-exclusively privately owned vehicle is exempt from the fee. For each additional such vehicle, one-third of the fee is paid—6.12 euros per month.

If a freelancer works from home, their home workspace may be exempt from a separate fee if it is accessible only through a private apartment that is already registered. However, company cars and separate offices must be checked individually.

Practical Checklist After Moving

After registering (Anmeldung), check to see if you’ve received a letter from Beitragsservice.
If the fee for the apartment is already being paid, ask the payer for their Beitragsnummer.
If no one is paying, register your residence (Wohnung anmelden).
Don’t throw away the letters: they contain the Aktenzeichen and response deadlines.
If you receive Bürgergeld, BAföG, or another benefit, submit a separate application for an exemption.
If you move, update your address via “Änderung zum Beitragskonto.”
When leaving Germany, submit a “Wohnung abmelden” (deregistration of residence).

FAQ

Do you have to pay if you don’t have a TV?

Yes. The fee is charged per apartment, not per device.

Do spouses have to pay twice?

No. If a married couple lives in the same apartment, only one housing fee is paid.

Can I just ignore the letter?

Don’t do it. If the letter is in error, it’s better to provide the payer’s number or file an Abmeldung. If you are required to pay, remaining silent usually results in debt.

How much will the Rundfunkbeitrag cost in 2026?

For private housing, the fee is 18.36 euros per month. The reduced fee for those marked with “RF” is 6.12 euros per month.

Where to submit applications?

Forms for registration, updating information, applying for an exemption, requesting a reduction in the fee, and deregistering an apartment are available on the official website at rundfunkbeitrag.de.