The Rundfunkbeitrag — also known as the GEZ, German broadcasting fee, TV tax, radio tax, or Funk tax — is a mandatory monthly household fee of €18.36 that every adult registered in Germany must pay, regardless of whether they own a television, radio, or any receiving device.
This guide covers everything expats need to know: when the obligation starts, how much it costs per year, how to pay, who qualifies for an exemption, what happens if you don’t pay, and what you actually receive in return — including a complete list of free channels and streaming platforms.
Table of Contents
- What Is the Rundfunkbeitrag (GEZ)?
- How Much Does the Rundfunkbeitrag Cost in 2026?
- When Does the Fee Start After Moving to Germany?
- How to Pay the Rundfunkbeitrag
- Who Is Exempt from the Rundfunkbeitrag?
- Rundfunkbeitrag in a Shared Flat (WG)
- Rundfunkbeitrag for Freelancers and Home-Office Workers
- What Happens If You Don’t Pay?
- What Channels Do You Get?
- How to Cancel the Rundfunkbeitrag When Leaving Germany
- FAQ: Rundfunkbeitrag for Expats
- Checklist: New Arrivals in Germany
1. What Is the Rundfunkbeitrag (GEZ)? {#what-is-it}
The Rundfunkbeitrag is Germany’s public broadcasting fee. It finances ARD, ZDF, and Deutschlandradio — the country’s public television and radio networks — as well as their online streaming platforms.
Despite being called a “tax” in everyday language, the Rundfunkbeitrag is legally not a tax. The German Federal Constitutional Court confirmed this in 2018. It is classified as a Beitrag (contribution) — a fee for a public service you have access to, whether or not you use it.
Key terminology — all refer to the same system:
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Rundfunkbeitrag | The official legal name of the fee (“broadcasting contribution”) |
| GEZ | The former collection agency name (Gebühreneinzugszentrale), abolished 2013. Still used as everyday slang |
| Beitragsservice | The current official collector: ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice |
| Funk tax / radio tax / TV tax | Informal English names used by expats |
Brief History: From GEZ to Rundfunkbeitrag
Before January 1, 2013, the GEZ fee applied only to households that owned a TV or radio. As smartphones and laptops made public broadcasting universally accessible, the device-based system collapsed — anyone could claim they had no receiving device. The 2013 reform introduced the current flat household fee: one payment per address, no device check, no opt-out.
2. How Much Does the Rundfunkbeitrag Cost in 2026? {#how-much}
The Rundfunkbeitrag costs €18.36 per household per month in 2026. The annual cost per household is €220.32.
| Payment Interval | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | €18.36 |
| Quarterly (standard billing cycle) | €55.08 |
| Bi-annually | €110.16 |
| Annually (total cost per year) | €220.32 |
Paying bi-annually or annually in advance offers no discount — the total is always the same.
Fee History and 2027 Outlook
| Period | Monthly Fee |
|---|---|
| 2015–2020 | €17.50 |
| 2021–2024 | €18.36 |
| 2025–2026 (current) | €18.36 (frozen by state governments) |
| 2027 (projected) | ~€18.64 (pending Federal Constitutional Court ruling) |
The KEF (independent commission that calculates broadcaster funding requirements) recommended raising the fee to €18.94 in 2025. All 16 state governments voted to freeze it at €18.36 through end of 2026. ARD and ZDF filed a constitutional complaint — a court ruling is expected in 2026. The next fee adjustment, if approved, would apply from January 2027.
3. When Does the Rundfunkbeitrag Start After Moving to Germany? {#when-start}
The Rundfunkbeitrag obligation begins on the 1st day of the month in which you move into your apartment — not when you receive the first letter, and not when you register with the Beitragsservice.
Example: You move in on March 15th → you owe the fee from March 1st. When a letter arrives in May, it includes back-payment for March and April.
How the Beitragsservice Finds You — the Meldedatenabgleich
You do not need to self-register. Here is the automatic process:
Step 1 — Anmeldung (address registration)
Register at the Bürgeramt (citizens’ office) within 14 days of moving in. This is a separate legal requirement under German residency law.
Step 2 — Meldedatenabgleich
Under a legal data-sharing process called the Meldedatenabgleich (registration data reconciliation), German registration offices periodically submit the names, dates of birth, and addresses of all registered adults to the Beitragsservice. You are enrolled in the fee system automatically — you do not register for it separately.
Step 3 — The letter arrives
Within weeks to a few months of your Anmeldung, you receive an official letter from ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice. It contains your Beitragsnummer (9-digit account number) and payment instructions. This letter is not a scam. Respond to it.
Can You Register Proactively?
Yes. Register and set up direct debit immediately — before the letter arrives — at rundfunkbeitrag.de. This avoids receiving a back-payment lump sum later and is the recommended approach.
Hotels, Airbnb, Temporary Accommodation
Hotels and guesthouses pay a commercial Rundfunkbeitrag — guests are not personally liable. Your obligation as an individual begins only once you have a registered private address (gemeldete Wohnung) in Germany.
4. How to Pay the Rundfunkbeitrag {#how-to-pay}
Method 1: SEPA Direct Debit (Strongly Recommended)
The Beitragsservice automatically collects €55.08 from your German bank account each quarter. Nothing to remember or manually transfer.
Setup steps:
- Find your Beitragsnummer — the 9-digit number on any letter from Beitragsservice
- Go to rundfunkbeitrag.de → account information form
- Under “Zahlungsweise” → “Zahlungsart” → select “Lastschrift von meinem Konto”
- Enter your German IBAN and confirm
A German IBAN is required. If you haven’t opened a German bank account yet, do so as a priority when you arrive.
Method 2: Manual Bank Transfer
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Recipient | Rundfunk ARD, ZD, DRadio |
| IBAN | DE07 5005 0000 0000 3456 78 |
| BIC | HELADEFFXXX |
| Reference | RF30X + your 9-digit Beitragsnummer |
Important change from June 2025: Manual payers no longer receive quarterly paper invoices. One annual letter lists all payment deadlines for the year. Set four calendar reminders per year or switch to direct debit.
Quarterly Payment Due Dates
| Quarter | Period Covered | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | January – March | 15 April |
| Q2 | April – June | 15 July |
| Q3 | July – September | 15 October |
| Q4 | October – December | 15 January (next year) |
5. Who Is Exempt from the Rundfunkbeitrag? {#exemptions}
Rundfunkbeitrag exemptions are not automatic. You must apply via the Beitragsservice website and submit proof of your qualifying status. Exemptions can be granted retroactively within the same calendar year.
Full Exemption — Pay Nothing
| Qualifying Status | German Term |
|---|---|
| Citizen’s income / unemployment benefit II | Bürgergeld |
| Basic income support (elderly / reduced earning capacity) | Grundsicherung |
| Social assistance (SGB XII) | Hilfe zum Lebensunterhalt |
| Student financial aid (BAföG) — not living with parents | BAföG |
| Apprentice training allowance (specific type) | Ausbildungsgeld |
| Asylum seeker residing in communal accommodation | — |
| Resident of an inpatient care home | — |
| Deaf-blind individuals / Blindenhilfe recipients | — |
October 2025 update: Students receiving BAföG and apprentices receiving Ausbildungsgeld who do not live with their parents are now explicitly exempt by statute. If you paid while receiving BAföG, you may apply retroactively for a refund.
Partial Exemption — Pay One Third (€6.12/month)
Holders of a Schwerbehindertenausweis (disabled person’s ID) with the “RF” marker pay €6.12/month instead of €18.36 — one third of the standard fee. This covers people who cannot attend public events due to disability and those with significant hearing or vision impairments.
What Does NOT Qualify as an Exemption
Situations that explicitly do not exempt you:
- Not owning a TV, radio, or internet-enabled device
- Personal non-use of public broadcasting
- Objecting to the content or politics of public broadcasters (consistently rejected by German courts)
- Receiving ALG I (standard unemployment benefit / Arbeitslosengeld I)
- Receiving Wohngeld (housing benefit)
- Receiving Übergangsgeld (transitional allowance)
- Being a student without BAföG
- Erasmus students and holders of foreign scholarships
How to Apply for an Exemption
- Go to rundfunkbeitrag.de → “Befreiung oder Ermäßigung beantragen”
- Select your qualifying category
- Upload proof (e.g., Bürgergeld decision letter, BAföG certificate, Schwerbehindertenausweis)
- Submit — decisions are typically issued within 4–6 weeks
6. Rundfunkbeitrag in a Shared Flat (WG — Wohngemeinschaft) {#wg}
In a shared flat (WG), only one person pays the Rundfunkbeitrag for the entire household. The fee is €18.36/month per apartment, regardless of how many people live there. If five people share a flat, you can split the €220.32 annual cost — the Beitragsservice bills only one account.
The Four WG Scenarios
Scenario A — Moving into a WG where someone already pays
- Ask your flatmate for their Beitragsnummer (the 9-digit number on their Beitragsservice letters)
- Go to rundfunkbeitrag.de → complete the deregistration form, referencing their Beitragsnummer
- You are now covered under their household account
If you skip this step, the Meldedatenabgleich will eventually generate a separate account for you. You will receive your own letters and may be billed as a second household.
Scenario B — First person to register in a new WG
Register yourself as payer at rundfunkbeitrag.de. Share your Beitragsnummer with your flatmates so they can deregister if they receive separate letters.
Scenario C — The registered payer moves out
The obligation continues — it simply has no named payer. A remaining flatmate must contact the Beitragsservice to take over the account (Übernahme der Beitragszahlung). If no one acts, the Beitragsservice eventually contacts all adults registered at that address.
Scenario D — You move out of a WG where you were the payer
Inform the Beitragsservice of your new address (Ummeldung) and confirm that a remaining flatmate will continue paying at the old address. Your new address begins a separate household obligation.
7. Rundfunkbeitrag for Freelancers and Home-Office Workers {#freelancers}
Freelancers and remote workers operating from their private apartment pay only the standard household fee of €18.36/month — not twice. A home used as a home office is not classified as a separate commercial Betriebsstätte for Rundfunkbeitrag purposes.
When a Second Business Fee Applies
A separate additional Rundfunkbeitrag is charged only on genuinely separate commercial premises (Betriebsstätte) — a rented office, studio, clinic, workshop, or shop that is distinct from your home address.
| Separate Premises — Number of Employees | Additional Monthly Fee |
|---|---|
| No employees (sole trader, separate office) | €18.36 |
| 1–4 employees | €18.36 |
| 5–9 employees | €36.72 |
| 10–19 employees | €55.08 |
| 20+ employees | Scales progressively |
Business vehicles used for commercial purposes (not purely private) can also trigger a per-vehicle contribution.
Practical rule: If you freelance from your flat, you pay €18.36/month as a household and nothing else. Reassess only if and when you take on separate commercial premises.
8. What Happens If You Don’t Pay the Rundfunkbeitrag? {#consequences}
Refusing to pay the Rundfunkbeitrag has serious and escalating consequences. The Beitragsservice has legal authority to enforce payment without going to court. Ignoring letters does not pause or cancel the debt.
Full Escalation Sequence
Stage 1 — Surcharges
A formal Festsetzungsbescheid (assessment notice) is issued. Each notice adds 1% of the outstanding amount, minimum €8 per notice. Multiple notices compound quickly.
Stage 2 — Administrative enforcement
The Beitragsservice initiates Verwaltungsvollstreckung (administrative enforcement) without a court order. A collection agency is engaged. Additional fees accumulate.
Stage 3 — Bank account seizure
Enforcement extends to seizure of your German bank account (Kontopfändung) through administrative channels.
Stage 4 — Negative SCHUFA entry
Debt reaching enforcement is reported to SCHUFA, Germany’s central credit bureau. A negative SCHUFA entry produces cascading real-world consequences for expats:
- Apartment applications are rejected — German landlords routinely require a SCHUFA report as a condition of viewing or applying for a rental. In competitive markets (Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg), a negative entry is effectively disqualifying
- German bank account applications denied
- Mobile phone and internet contracts refused
- Mortgages and credit products inaccessible
Stage 5 — Criminal enforcement
Persistent refusal to comply with administrative enforcement can ultimately result in imprisonment under German law. This has occurred in documented German cases. It is a last resort, not a myth.
Stage 6 — Debt follows you internationally
Outstanding Rundfunkbeitrag debt does not expire when you leave Germany. The Beitragsservice can pursue international debt recovery. Cancelling properly before departure (see Section 10) is far easier than resolving a foreign debt later.
9. What Channels Do You Get for Your €18.36/Month? {#channels}
The Rundfunkbeitrag funds access to over 60 public TV and radio channels plus major streaming platforms — all legally free and without separate subscription.
Public Television Channels
ARD Network — Das Erste plus 9 Regional Broadcasters:
| Channel | Coverage / Focus |
|---|---|
| Das Erste | National flagship — news, sport, drama, entertainment |
| BR Fernsehen | Bavaria |
| hr-fernsehen | Hesse |
| MDR | Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia |
| NDR | Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg |
| Radio Bremen TV | Bremen |
| rbb | Berlin & Brandenburg |
| SR Fernsehen | Saarland |
| SWR | Baden-Württemberg & Rhineland-Palatinate |
| WDR | North Rhine-Westphalia |
| tagesschau24 | 24-hour news |
| ONE | Series, entertainment, younger audience |
| ARD alpha | Education, science, culture |
ZDF Network:
| Channel | Focus |
|---|---|
| ZDF | National flagship — news, sport, documentaries |
| ZDFinfo | Documentaries, current affairs, factual |
| ZDFneo | Series, entertainment, younger audience |
Joint Public Channels:
| Channel | Focus |
|---|---|
| 3sat | Culture, science, arts — joint ARD/ZDF/Austria/Switzerland |
| ARTE | Franco-German cultural channel — films, documentaries, international |
| PHOENIX | Live politics, Bundestag sessions, current affairs |
| KiKA | Children’s programming — strictly ad-free |
Public Radio Stations
Via Deutschlandradio:
- Deutschlandfunk — national news and information
- Deutschlandfunk Kultur — culture, literature, arts, radio plays
- Deutschlandfunk Nova — science, technology, music
Via ARD regional networks: Bayern 1, WDR 2, NDR 1 Radio MV, SWR3, MDR Kultur, rbb 88.8, and dozens more across all 16 federal states.
Free Online Streaming — No Extra Cost, No Account Required
| Platform | URL | Content |
|---|---|---|
| ARD Mediathek | ardmediathek.de | Full live streams, on-demand TV, films, documentaries — available up to several years post-broadcast |
| ZDF Mediathek | zdf.de | ZDF live and on-demand — news, drama, sport, documentaries |
| ARTE | arte.tv | International films and documentaries in German, French, English, Spanish, Italian, Polish |
| Tagesschau | tagesschau.de | Hourly news updates, live feeds, one of Europe’s most-read news platforms |
| KiKA | kika.de | Ad-free children’s content |
| PHOENIX | phoenix.de | Live parliamentary coverage and political programmes |
Expat tip: ARD Mediathek and ZDF Mediathek offer most content with German subtitles. Using these platforms to watch news programmes and documentaries is one of the most effective — and completely free — methods to improve German language skills.
10. How to Cancel the Rundfunkbeitrag When Leaving Germany {#cancel}
When you leave Germany permanently, you must actively cancel your Rundfunkbeitrag. The fee does not stop automatically when you move out. Debt accumulates indefinitely until you formally deregister.
Step-by-Step Cancellation Process
- Complete your Abmeldung (address de-registration) at the local Bürgeramt before or shortly after leaving Germany
- Receive your Abmeldebestätigung (de-registration confirmation) — this is the required proof document
- Go to rundfunkbeitrag.de → deregistration form (“Abmelden”)
- Upload your Abmeldebestätigung
- Submit — cancellation takes effect from your de-registration date
You cannot cancel by phone, by email, or verbally. The online form with the uploaded Abmeldebestätigung is the only accepted method.
Mid-Quarter Refunds
If you have prepaid a quarter and leave mid-quarter, you are entitled to a refund for any remaining complete months. This is processed automatically upon confirmed deregistration.
Moving Within Germany — Not the Same as Cancelling
Relocating within Germany is an address update (Ummeldung), not a cancellation. Update your address with the Beitragsservice online. Your Beitragsnummer stays the same. Billing continues uninterrupted.
Official Contact and Key Forms
| Method | Detail |
|---|---|
| Website (all forms) | rundfunkbeitrag.de |
| Postal address | ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice, 50656 Köln |
| Phone | 01806 999 555 10 |
| Hours | Mon–Fri 7:30–19:00 / Sat 9:00–17:00 |
| Language | German only |
German form names to know:
| Action Needed | Form Name at rundfunkbeitrag.de |
|---|---|
| Register as new payer | Anmeldung |
| Cancel (leaving Germany) | Abmeldung |
| Update address (moving within Germany) | Ummeldung |
| Apply for exemption or reduction | Befreiung oder Ermäßigung beantragen |
| Exempt secondary residence | Befreiung Nebenwohnung |
11. Frequently Asked Questions: Rundfunkbeitrag for Expats {#faq}
Does every person living in Germany have to pay the Rundfunkbeitrag?
No — the fee is per household, not per person. Every private apartment or house pays €18.36/month. If four people share a flat, only one person registers and pays — the other three are covered by the same household fee.
Do I have to pay the Rundfunkbeitrag if I don’t own a TV?
Yes. Since the 2013 reform, owning a television, radio, or any receiving device is no longer relevant. All households in Germany pay, regardless of device ownership.
When exactly does my Rundfunkbeitrag obligation start?
From the 1st of the month in which you move into your apartment. If you moved in on March 20th, you owe from March 1st. The Beitragsservice bills retroactively from that date.
I received a letter from ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice. Is it a scam?
No. This is the official payment notice from Germany’s public broadcasting fee authority. It is legally binding. Set up payment or apply for an exemption immediately.
Am I exempt as an international student in Germany?
Only if you receive BAföG (German state student financial aid) and do not live with your parents. Erasmus students, self-funded students, and scholarship holders from abroad must pay the full household fee.
What happens if I simply don’t pay?
Non-payment triggers surcharges, enforcement by a collection agency, potential bank account seizure, and a negative SCHUFA credit entry. A bad SCHUFA score prevents you from renting an apartment or obtaining bank accounts and contracts in Germany. In documented extreme cases, persistent refusal has resulted in imprisonment.
Can I avoid the fee by saying I never watch German TV?
No. Personal non-use is not a legal exemption. German courts — including the Federal Administrative Court in 2025 — have consistently upheld this.
How does the Rundfunkbeitrag work in a WG (shared flat)?
One flatmate pays for the whole apartment. Ask whoever is already registered for their Beitragsnummer and use it to deregister at rundfunkbeitrag.de. If no one is currently registered, one person must register to avoid the Beitragsservice billing all residents separately.
As a freelancer working from home, will I be charged twice?
No. Working from your private apartment does not create a separate commercial Betriebsstätte for Rundfunkbeitrag purposes. You pay one household fee. A second fee applies only if you rent or own separate commercial premises.
How do I cancel the Rundfunkbeitrag when I leave Germany?
Do your Abmeldung at the Bürgeramt, get the Abmeldebestätigung certificate, then submit the deregistration form online at rundfunkbeitrag.de with the certificate attached. Phone and email cancellations are not accepted.
What is the Rundfunkbeitrag total cost per year?
€220.32 per year (€18.36 × 12 months). For a WG of four, this equals €55.08 per person per year if split equally.
Is GEZ the same thing as Rundfunkbeitrag?
They refer to the same system. GEZ (Gebühreneinzugszentrale) was the former collector, abolished in 2013. The fee is now called the Rundfunkbeitrag, collected by the Beitragsservice. All three terms are used interchangeably in everyday speech.
12. Your Rundfunkbeitrag Checklist for New Arrivals in Germany {#checklist}
- [ ] Register your address (Anmeldung at the Bürgeramt) within 14 days of moving in
- [ ] Moving into a WG: ask your flatmate for their Beitragsnummer and deregister at rundfunkbeitrag.de
- [ ] Moving into an empty apartment: register proactively at rundfunkbeitrag.de or wait for the letter
- [ ] Set up SEPA direct debit (€55.08/quarter) to automate payments
- [ ] Check whether you qualify for an exemption — BAföG, Bürgergeld, Grundsicherung, disability RF marker
- [ ] If exempt: apply immediately at rundfunkbeitrag.de with supporting documents — exemptions are never automatic
- [ ] Freelancer with home office: you are covered by the household fee — no separate business registration needed
- [ ] Save your Beitragsnummer (9 digits, on every Beitragsservice letter) — required for all account interactions
- [ ] Leaving Germany: complete Abmeldung at the Bürgeramt, then submit the deregistration form online with your Abmeldebestätigung
Last updated: February 2026 | Current monthly fee: €18.36 | Annual cost: €220.32 | Fee frozen at current rate through end of 2026. Possible increase to approximately €18.64 from January 2027, pending Federal Constitutional Court ruling.
This guide is for informational purposes. For complex situations — business premises, disability exemptions, enforcement disputes — consult the official Beitragsservice website (rundfunkbeitrag.de) or a qualified adviser in Germany.
