This one is a wildcat. Fiddly, and easy to get wrong. Nothing bad happens if you do — you just have to fix it. Get it right once and you never think about it again.

Rundfunkbeitrag helper

A letter arrives from an organisation you have never heard of, asking you for money. It is genuine, and it is not a fine. Everyone who registers an address in Germany gets one, because the registration office passes your move on by itself. The fee is charged per home rather than per person, and this page goes through the letter line by line.

What the fee is

Every home pays it. Owning a TV makes no difference.The official wording The Rundfunkbeitrag (broadcasting fee) is a legally prescribed contribution that funds Germany's public broadcasters. It applies to households regardless of whether you own a TV or radio. Source ↗

18.36 euros a month, for the whole household.The official wording For private households the fee is 18.36 euros per month. Source ↗

The letter you'll get

The letter is routine. Everyone who registers gets one.The official wording When you register a new address (Anmeldung), the residents' registration office notifies the contribution service, which then writes to you to clarify the contribution obligation. The letter is routine — everyone who registers gets contacted. Source ↗

So the letter finding you is not a sign that something went wrong. It arrived because you registered your address, which is exactly what you were supposed to do.

One dwelling, one fee

One home, one fee. Flatmates do not each pay.The official wording The rule is one dwelling, one fee: if several people live together in one dwelling, only one person pays. Flatmates do not each pay their own fee. Source ↗

The Beitragsnummer

Your 9-digit number sits top right on every letter.The official wording The Beitragsnummer is your 9-digit contribution number. You find it on the registration confirmation, on your account statement, on a payment demand, or at the top right of any Beitragsservice letter. Source ↗

Reductions and exemptions

Some people pay half, some nothing. You have to apply.The official wording Reductions and exemptions exist — for example a reduced fee of 6.12 euros per month for people with severe disabilities (RF mark), and exemptions for deaf-blind people and recipients of certain social benefits including BAföG. Applications go through the contribution service. Source ↗

Leaving Germany

Leaving Germany for good? Deregister, with your Abmeldung as proof.The official wording If you move abroad permanently and give up your German dwelling, you deregister with the contribution service; proof of your deregistration (Abmeldung) from the residents' registration office is required. If other people stay in the dwelling, one of them registers it for the fee instead. Source ↗

Letter terms, translated

The words you will meet on a Beitragsservice letter, and what each one means. It does not tell you what to answer.

Beitragsservice: The joint contribution service of the public broadcasters — the sender of the letter
Beitragsnummer: Your 9-digit contribution account number
Zahlungsaufforderung: Payment request
Lastschrift / SEPA-Lastschriftmandat: Direct debit / direct-debit mandate
Befreiung: Exemption from the fee
Ermäßigung: Reduced fee
Abmeldung: Deregistering your dwelling from the fee

When this page isn't enough

An enforcement notice (Festsetzungsbescheid), a letter from debt collection, or an objection to the fee itself is past the point where translating words helps. Use the contribution service's own official routes, or get professional advice. Do not rely on this page for a dispute.

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An automated assistant that organizes your information and applies publicly documented rules. Sources for each rule are cited.

This is not legal, tax, immigration, or financial advice, and not an official recognition, filing, or application. For decisions with legal or financial consequences, consult a qualified professional.

Rules last verified: 2026-07-14.