TV Tax in Germany: What it is and how to pay it

If you’ve recently moved to Germany, you may soon receive a letter by post from the Beitragsservice asking you to pay the Rundfunkbeitrag, or the TV tax.

What is the Rundfunkbeitrag?

The Rundfunkbeitrag, or TV tax, is a public broadcasting tax in Germany. It costs €18.36 per household each month. It pays for a bunch of public TV and radio channels, news, sports and entertainment.

Do I need to pay it?

Every household needs to pay the tax. If you’re registered at an address with other people, only one person needs to pay it. Of course, you may split up expenses among flatmates how you want. If you don’t pay the tax, tax collectors will be sent, and your Schufa score, which effects your ability to get an apartment, for example, will decline.

How do I pay the TV tax?

You can simply pay the TV tax online, unlike most German bureaucratic necessities. This page is where you can register and pay the tax. You can sign up to pay automatically, so the Beitragsservice simply pulls the amount from your bank account each month. You will not receive the letters in the mail this way. You can choose to pay every 3 months, 6 months, or for a year in advance.

If you’d rather manually pay, you will receive a letter by post every three months. This will have a payment slip you can fill out and return to them. It also has a QR code you can scan with your banking app that will populate the payment details – one of the great things about Germany is this easy payment feature!

What do I do if someone else in my apartment pays the Rundfunkbeitrag?

If someone at your address is already paying the TV tax, you need to inform the Beitragsservice so it doesn’t affect your Schufa score. Visit this page. Use Google Translate extension if you need to translate the page from German. To deregister, you will need the Aktenzeichen, or contribution number, of the account that is currently paying for your address.

Step by step to deregister if someone else pays the tax at your address

The final two pages ask for your contact details, to fill in a security check, and to review the information submitted. That’s it!

Am I exempt from the tax altogether?

If you are a student and you get financial aid, you don’t pay the TV tax. If you are an apprentice and get financial aid, you don’t pay the tax. Most apprentices have to pay the TV tax. If you receive social benefits, you do not pay the tax. If you have RF in your disabled person’s pass, you pay 1/3 of the fee. Seniors who live in a nursing home, or get financial aid don’t pay the TV tax. Asylum seekers don’t pay any TV tax. If you have multiple residences, you don’t pay the TV tax at your secondary residence. You must apply for an exemption.

If any of these apply to you, you can ask for a reduction or an exemption.

I never received a letter in the mail, why not?

You will only receive a letter informing you to pay the TV tax if you’ve registered your address (Anmeldung) with the Bürgeramt. Once registered, the Beitragsservice will collect the TV tax.

How to stop paying the TV tax

If you move out of Germany, let the Beitragsservice know by deregistering. It takes a minute and can be done here.

You’re done!

Have you gone through the process of paying the TV tax in Germany? How was the experience for you? Leave a comment below. Looking for a fun and comprehensive how-to about moving to Germany? This book will answer all your questions. If you’re looking to travel abroad, check out my post Is Mexico City Safe For Solo Female Travel? or Backpacking Costa Rica: Your Ultimate Guide in 2021. Do you have your private health insurance yet? I recommend Feather for easy, English-speaking service. Check them out here.