Rundfunkbeitrag (radio licence fee / GEZ): who pays and how much

Who needs it

Mandatory for every household. The fee is charged per flat (Wohnung), not per person and not per device. It does not matter whether you own a TV, radio or computer, or whether you watch German TV at all.

• Every adult (18+) who lives in a flat is legally liable. Being registered at the address or named on the tenancy agreement counts as living there.
• Only one person per flat pays. The other residents are covered and do not need their own account.
• If you have a second home, you only pay once. You can apply to have the second flat exempted.

It used to be called GEZ after the old collection office, and many people still use that name. Today the fee is collected by the ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice.

When

The obligation starts on the first day of the month you move in. It ends at the end of the month you move out, but not before the month in which you tell the Beitragsservice. So a late deregistration costs you money.

What you need

• Your address and move-in date
• Your date of birth
• Bank details (IBAN) if you want to pay by direct debit
• If your flat is already registered: the flatmate's Beitragsnummer (9-digit contribution number)

How to do it

1. Check whether someone already pays for your flat. In a flat share (WG), ask your flatmates. If someone pays, you don't register a new account. If you get a letter, reply with their Beitragsnummer.
2. If nobody pays yet, register on rundfunkbeitrag.de using the form for first-time registration (Erstmalig anmelden). You get a 9-digit Beitragsnummer.
3. If you already have an account and are moving, don't register again. Change your address with the change details form.
4. Choose how to pay. By default you pay €55.08 every three months, due in the middle of each three-month period. You can also pay in advance per quarter, half-year or year. Direct debit is simplest. For a bank transfer, always include your Beitragsnummer.

Why did I get a letter when I didn't register?

After your Anmeldung, the registration office tells the Beitragsservice that you moved in. There is also a regular nationwide data comparison. Every adult who can't be matched to a paying account gets a letter asking them to clarify.

Some letters may be addressed to the residents of your flat in general rather than to you by name. They still need an answer if nobody in the flat is registered yet.

What happens afterwards

You receive a registration confirmation with your Beitragsnummer, then regular payment requests or direct debits. Keep the Beitragsnummer. You need it to move, change payment details or deregister.

Can I get an exemption?

Exemptions and reductions are only given on application, with proof. You apply online, then print, sign and post the form with your documents. Groups who can apply include people receiving:

• BAföG (student finance), if you don't live with your parents. The exemption also covers your spouse or registered partner in the same flat, but not other flatmates;
• social assistance or basic income support, and benefits for asylum seekers;
• blind assistance; deaf-blind people also qualify.

People with the RF mark on their disability card can pay a reduced fee of €6.12 per month. An exemption can apply up to three years back from the month you apply, if you qualified during that time. Some students who cannot get BAföG, for example because of their age or a change of subject, can apply as a hardship case.

Common problems

We are three people in a flat share. Do we all pay?

No. One of you registers and pays one fee for the whole flat. Many WGs split the cost internally. In student halls, rooms that each open onto a shared corridor count as separate flats, so each room pays. A shared apartment unit with one front door counts as one flat.

I'm leaving Germany. How do I stop paying?

Deregister your flat with the Beitragsservice using the online form Wohnung abmelden and your Beitragsnummer. Attach proof, such as your Abmeldebescheinigung. Do it before or right after you leave. Payment only ends in the month they are notified. Deregistering at the city office does not cancel the fee for you.

I moved in with someone who already pays.

Deregister your own account and give the Beitragsnummer of the person who pays for the new flat.

What happens if I don't pay?

Late payment adds a surcharge of 1% of the overdue amount, at least €8. Unpaid amounts are then set in a formal assessment notice (Festsetzungsbescheid). Unpaid fees are then collected under state enforcement rules, which can include seizing money from your bank account or wages. Ignoring it does not make it go away.

Is the letter or SMS I received real?

The Beitragsservice does not ask for payment by SMS and does not handle individual payment matters by email. Fake emails, SMS and letters demanding urgent payment are common. If in doubt, log in or check your account balance on rundfunkbeitrag.de directly. Registering there is free, so you don't need a paid third-party service.

Will the fee go up?

The fee is currently €18.36 per month. The independent commission KEF recommended €18.64 per month from 1 January 2027. This only takes effect if the federal states change the treaty or the Federal Constitutional Court decides it. The Federal Constitutional Court heard the broadcasters' case in June 2026. As of late September 2026, no ruling has been published. We will update this page when it is.

Costs

€18.36 per month per flat, usually paid as €55.08 every three months.