Rundfunkbeitrag: the German broadcasting fee
Almost every newcomer gets a letter from the Beitragsservice soon after registering their address. It is not a scam — but it is also not optional. Here is what it is and how to respond.
The Rundfunkbeitrag is a per-household public broadcasting fee, currently €18.36 per month. It is mandatory — one contribution per residence, whether or not you own a TV.
What it is
The fee funds public broadcasters (ARD, ZDF, Deutschlandradio) and is collected by the Beitragsservice. Since 2013 it is owed per Wohnung (household) — not per person and not per device. If you share a flat, only one contribution is due for the whole address.
Is it really mandatory?
Yes. The obligation applies regardless of whether you watch or listen, and has been upheld by Germany’s highest courts. Ignoring the letters does not make it go away — unpaid amounts can be formally set by a Festsetzungsbescheid and enforced.
When a letter has a deadline
Ordinary payment requests and account statements are not yet Bescheide and carry no objection deadline. Only a Festsetzungsbescheid (which formally sets arrears) contains a Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung, usually with a one-month Widerspruch period.
When an objection can be worth it
- Double registration — someone at your address already pays; give their Beitragsnummer.
- Exemption or reduction — e.g. certain social benefits; must be applied for.
- Wrong period — you were charged for months before you moved in, or after you moved out (deregister when you leave).
Frequently asked
How much is it?
Can I avoid it if I have no TV?
My flatmate already pays — do I still owe it?
Not sure if it’s a bill or a Bescheid?
Upload a photo or PDF – Mein Büro finds the sender, the amount and the deadline, counts down the days and suggests what to do next. It can also draft your reply in German, ready to send to the authority.
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