Broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag) in Germany

Rundfunkbeitrag: The Rundfunkbeitrag is the fee that funds Germany's public broadcasters. It is charged per dwelling, not per person or device.

Nationwide rules verified on 13 Nov 2026. Responsible: a federal body (nationwide).

For every dwelling in Germany a broadcasting fee of 18.36 euros per month is charged. One adult per dwelling registers and pays; flatmates do not pay again. You have to notify the Beitragsservice without delay, in writing, when you start living in a dwelling. Online registration is available on rundfunkbeitrag.de.

Who:Every adult who lives in a dwelling. The law presumes anyone registered there or named as tenant in the rental contract to be a holder of the dwelling. Only one person per dwelling needs to be registered and pay.

Deadline

Without delay (no fixed number of days), in writing, once you live in a dwelling (Das Innehaben einer Wohnung ... ist unverzüglich schriftlich der zuständigen Landesrundfunkanstalt anzuzeigen (Anmeldung)) § 8 Abs. 1 RBStV · Source: recht.nrw.de · as of 13 Nov 2026

Fees set nationwide

• 18.36 euros per month for each dwelling (Für jede Wohnung wird monatlich ein Rundfunkbeitrag von 18,36 € erhoben) Source: rundfunkbeitrag.de · as of 13 Nov 2026

Register for the broadcasting fee (online form) (rundfunkbeitrag.de) Source: rundfunkbeitrag.de · as of 13 Nov 2026

In your city

This is handled nationwide; the city guides below repeat these rules and link the right local pages where relevant.

Steps

1. If nobody in your dwelling is registered yet, register online with the form for first-time registration (Erstmalig anmelden). (Sie möchten sich erstmalig für den Rundfunkbeitrag anmelden? Nutzen Sie bitte dieses Online-Formular.) Source: rundfunkbeitrag.de · as of 13 Nov 2026
2. If you move into a dwelling where someone already pays, only one adult per dwelling needs to be registered; the residents decide who. (Pro Wohnung muss nur eine volljährige Person angemeldet sein und den Rundfunkbeitrag bezahlen.) Source: rundfunkbeitrag.de · as of 13 Nov 2026
3. If you qualify for an exemption or reduction, apply for it: it is not granted automatically. (Eine Befreiung von der Rundfunkbeitragspflicht oder eine Ermäßigung des Rundfunkbeitrags wird nicht automatisch gewährt.) Source: rundfunkbeitrag.de · as of 13 Nov 2026

Good to know

• The obligation to pay begins on the first day of the month in which you first live in the dwelling. (Die Pflicht zur Entrichtung des Rundfunkbeitrags beginnt mit dem Ersten des Monats, in dem der Beitragsschuldner erstmals die Wohnung ... innehat.) § 7 Abs. 1 RBStV · Source: recht.nrw.de · as of 13 Nov 2026
• The fee is owed monthly but paid in the middle of each three-month period, for three months at a time. (Er ist in der Mitte eines Dreimonatszeitraums für jeweils drei Monate zu leisten.) § 7 Abs. 3 RBStV · Source: recht.nrw.de · as of 13 Nov 2026
• Every adult who lives in the dwelling counts as a holder. Anyone registered there under registration law or named as tenant in the rental contract is presumed to be a holder. (Inhaber einer Wohnung ist jede volljährige Person, die die Wohnung selbst bewohnt.) § 2 Abs. 2 RBStV · Source: recht.nrw.de · as of 13 Nov 2026
• One holder's registration also counts for the other holders of the same dwelling. (Die Anzeige eines Beitragsschuldners für eine Wohnung ... wirkt auch für weitere anzeigepflichtige Beitragsschuldner) § 8 Abs. 3 RBStV · Source: recht.nrw.de · as of 13 Nov 2026
• Moving out must also be reported without delay and in writing (deregistration). The obligation ends at the end of the month in which you stop holding the dwelling, but not before the end of the month in which you reported it. (Das Ende des Innehabens einer Wohnung ... ist der zuständigen Landesrundfunkanstalt unverzüglich schriftlich anzuzeigen (Abmeldung).) § 8 Abs. 2, § 7 Abs. 2 RBStV · Source: recht.nrw.de · as of 13 Nov 2026
• Exemption on application is available, among others, to recipients of certain social benefits (such as social assistance or benefits under the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act) and to recipients of BAföG student aid, vocational training allowance or training allowance who do not live with their parents. See § 4 Abs. 1 RBStV for the full list. (nicht bei den Eltern wohnende Empfänger von a) Ausbildungsförderung nach dem Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz ...) § 4 Abs. 1 RBStV · Source: recht.nrw.de · as of 13 Nov 2026
• For certain people with disabilities (as defined in the law), the fee is reduced to one third on application. (Der Rundfunkbeitrag nach § 2 Abs. 1 wird auf Antrag für folgende natürliche Personen auf ein Drittel ermäßigt) § 4 Abs. 2 RBStV · Source: recht.nrw.de · as of 13 Nov 2026
• A BAföG exemption also covers the spouse or registered partner, but not other flatmates. (Wer BAföG erhält und nicht bei seinen Eltern wohnt, kann sich auf Antrag vom Rundfunkbeitrag befreien lassen.) Source: rundfunkbeitrag.de · as of 13 Nov 2026
• Rooms in student halls that open onto a generally accessible corridor count as a separate dwelling, whether or not they have their own bathroom or kitchen. (Sie gelten als Wohnung – egal, ob sie über ein eigenes Bad oder eine Küche verfügen.) Source: rundfunkbeitrag.de · as of 13 Nov 2026

Legal basis

• § 2 RBStV: A fee is payable for every dwelling by its holder; every adult who lives there is a holder; several holders are jointly liable
• § 4 RBStV: Exemptions and reductions on application
• § 7 RBStV: The obligation starts on the first of the month in which you first hold the dwelling; the fee is paid every three months
• § 8 RBStV: Duty to notify: registration without delay and in writing; one holder's registration also covers the other holders of the same dwelling

German terms

Rundfunkbeitrag

Broadcasting fee for public TV and radio, charged per dwelling

Beitragsservice

The service that handles registration and collection of the fee

Beitragsnummer

Your 9-digit contribution account number, shown on the registration confirmation

Wohnung

Dwelling: a self-contained unit for living or sleeping with its own entrance

Beitragsschuldner

The person liable to pay the fee

Anmeldung / Abmeldung

Registering / deregistering with the Beitragsservice (separate from the address registration at the city)

Befreiung / Ermäßigung

Exemption / reduction, only on application

unverzüglich

Without undue delay (the law gives no fixed number of days)

Landesrundfunkanstalt

The regional public broadcaster that is legally responsible for the fee in your state

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