If you have recently moved to Germany, you may receive a letter about something called the Rundfunkbeitrag. Many international students and expats call it the “German TV tax,” “TV licence fee” or “TV tax in Germany.” The official term, however, is Rundfunkbeitrag, which is the broadcasting contribution used to finance Germany's public broadcasting services.
One of the most important things to understand is that the Rundfunkbeitrag is generally charged per dwelling, not per television, person or device. The standard contribution is currently €18.36 per month for one dwelling. This means that having no television does not normally remove the obligation to pay if you are responsible for a dwelling that is subject to the contribution.
This guide explains the Rundfunkbeitrag in Germany in simple English, including who has to pay, how much it costs, what happens in a WG or shared apartment, what students and apprentices need to know, possible exemptions, how to register, what happens when you move and what you should do if you receive a payment request.
The Rundfunkbeitrag is a legally regulated contribution that helps finance public broadcasting in Germany, including services provided by ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio. It is often described informally in English as the German TV tax or broadcasting fee.
The important distinction is that it is not simply a charge for owning a television. The contribution is linked primarily to the dwelling. Therefore, whether you personally own a TV, radio, smartphone, laptop or other device does not normally determine whether the household contribution applies.
This system is particularly important for people arriving in Germany because many newcomers assume that they only need to pay if they watch German television. That is generally not how the system works. The contribution is based on the dwelling rather than individual television usage.
As of 2026, the standard Rundfunkbeitrag is €18.36 per month per dwelling. The official payment information lists the standard amount as €55.08 for three months, €110.16 for six months and €220.32 for twelve months.
The contribution is therefore a regular household expense that newcomers should include in their Germany living-cost calculations. For someone living alone, the entire contribution is normally their responsibility. In a shared apartment, however, the residents can share the cost between themselves even though the contribution account is generally associated with one person.
In general, one Rundfunkbeitrag is payable for each dwelling. This means that people living in the same apartment or house do not normally each pay a separate €18.36 contribution for the same dwelling.
This is one of the most important rules for international residents. If four people live together in a WG, for example, the household does not normally have four separate Rundfunkbeitrag charges. One person can be registered as the person paying for the dwelling, while the residents can agree among themselves how to divide the cost.
The official contribution service states that the amount applies to a dwelling regardless of how many people live there or how many devices they use.
Generally, yes. Not owning a television does not by itself exempt you from the Rundfunkbeitrag.
This is because the system is based on the dwelling rather than whether a particular person owns or uses a television. So saying “I don't have a TV” is normally not sufficient to cancel the contribution.
The same principle applies if you mainly watch Netflix, YouTube or other private streaming services instead of German public television. The contribution is not calculated according to how much public broadcasting you personally watch.
A WG (Wohngemeinschaft) is a shared apartment and it is one of the situations that causes the most confusion among students and international residents.
Suppose four students share one apartment. Normally, there is one Rundfunkbeitrag for the dwelling rather than one contribution for each student. One resident can have the contribution account in their name and the residents can decide privately how to divide the cost.
For example, if four people agree to divide €18.36 equally, the approximate individual share would be €4.59 per month. This private arrangement does not change the official contribution amount for the dwelling.
It is important to keep the Beitragsnummer of the person who pays. If another person receives a letter asking them to register, they may need to provide the relevant contribution information to show that the dwelling is already covered.
This is an important issue because the contribution account belongs to the person rather than simply remaining permanently attached to the physical apartment.
If the person whose name is on the Rundfunkbeitrag account moves to another address and continues to be responsible for the contribution there, they normally take their contribution account and Beitragsnummer with them. The new address needs to be reported.
If other people remain in the old WG, one of them should take responsibility for the contribution for the remaining dwelling. The official service specifically advises that the remaining residents should not simply continue paying under the departing person's contribution number.
Students are generally required to pay the Rundfunkbeitrag if they live in their own dwelling. Being a university student by itself does not automatically mean that you are exempt.
There is, however, an important exception for certain students who receive BAföG and meet the applicable requirements. A student receiving BAföG and living away from their parents can apply for an exemption. The exemption is not automatic; an application and supporting documents are required.
International students should be particularly careful here. Simply being an international student, Erasmus student or someone studying temporarily in Germany does not automatically create an exemption. The official information states that Erasmus students and other scholarship recipients are generally subject to the contribution rules.
People completing an Ausbildung should not assume that their apprentice status automatically makes them exempt from the Rundfunkbeitrag.
Certain apprentices receiving qualifying public benefits, such as Berufsausbildungsbeihilfe under the applicable rules, may be able to apply for an exemption. However, receiving an Ausbildungsvergütung or simply being an apprentice does not automatically mean that the contribution disappears. The official rules distinguish between qualifying benefits and ordinary apprenticeship income.
Therefore, Ausbildung candidates should check their individual circumstances rather than assuming that a low salary automatically results in an exemption.
International residents are generally subject to the same dwelling-based contribution system as other residents. Your nationality does not normally remove the obligation.
This means that someone arriving from India, the UK, the United States, Canada or another country and renting their own apartment in Germany should include the Rundfunkbeitrag among their regular living expenses.
If you live in a WG, first check whether another resident is already paying the contribution for the apartment. If so, you generally do not need to create a second contribution account for the same dwelling.
If you are responsible for a dwelling that is not already covered by another resident, you should register it with the Beitragsservice von ARD, ZDF und Deutschlandradio.
The official website provides an online form for registering a dwelling for the first time. If you already have a contribution account and are moving, there is a separate process for changing your address.
The basic process is:
If you live in a WG, it is sensible to discuss the Rundfunkbeitrag with your roommates when you move in. This avoids two residents unnecessarily registering the same dwelling.
The Beitragsnummer is the individual contribution number associated with a Rundfunkbeitrag account. It is important when communicating with the Beitragsservice or making payments.
The official payment information says that the nine-digit Beitragsnummer should be included as the payment reference when making a bank transfer so that the payment can be assigned to the correct contribution account.
Keep this number in your records. It can become particularly useful when you move, change payment arrangements or need to demonstrate that a dwelling is already covered.
There are several ways to pay the contribution. The official payment information provides options including SEPA direct debit and bank transfer, with different payment intervals available.
If you use a bank transfer, make sure you enter the correct payment reference and especially your nine-digit Beitragsnummer. Incorrect payment details can make it more difficult for the payment to be assigned correctly.
A common misunderstanding is that you only need to pay after receiving a separate monthly bill. The Rundfunkbeitrag does not work like a typical subscription where you necessarily receive a new invoice every month.
The official payment information states that the contribution is legally regulated and must be paid even when no special payment request has been issued. If an account falls into arrears, the Beitragsservice can issue a formal assessment notice.
Therefore, if you are responsible for the contribution, do not simply wait for repeated reminders before checking your account. Keep your address and payment information up to date.
If required contributions remain unpaid, the account can fall into arrears. The official Beitragsservice explains that a Festsetzungsbescheid can be issued when contributions remain outstanding. Additional costs, including late-payment charges, can also become relevant.
For newcomers to Germany, this is another reason not to ignore letters from the Beitragsservice. If you believe that another person in your apartment is already paying, check the situation rather than simply ignoring the letter.
Yes, but only under specific conditions. Exemption is not automatic. If you believe you qualify, you generally need to submit an application together with the required evidence.
Possible grounds can include certain social benefits, qualifying BAföG or vocational-training assistance and certain health-related circumstances. The exact requirements depend on the individual situation.
For example, the official rules state that certain students, apprentices and school students who receive qualifying benefits and do not live with their parents may apply for an exemption.
It is important not to confuse low income with automatic exemption. Not every person with a low salary or limited income qualifies.
BAföG students who live away from their parents may apply for an exemption from the Rundfunkbeitrag if they meet the applicable conditions.
The exemption also has important limits. According to the official student information, the exemption can cover a spouse or registered partner in certain circumstances, but it does not automatically extend to other roommates.
Therefore, if a student in a WG is exempt because of BAföG, that does not automatically mean every other person living in the apartment is exempt.
If you are living in your parents' household, the situation is different from renting your own separate dwelling. The contribution is generally already covered by the household's existing contribution arrangement.
The official information for students states that students, apprentices and school students who still live at home have the household contribution covered through their parents' dwelling.
Student accommodation can be more complicated because the legal treatment depends on the nature and structure of the accommodation. You should not assume that every room in every student residence is treated exactly like a normal private apartment.
If you live in a student residence, check the specific arrangement for your accommodation and whether your room constitutes a separate dwelling for Rundfunkbeitrag purposes. The official student information specifically provides guidance for people living in student accommodation.
Moving to a new German address does not necessarily mean creating an entirely new contribution account. The procedure depends on whether you already have a contribution account and whether you remain the person responsible for the new dwelling.
If you are already paying and move to another address, you generally need to notify the Beitragsservice of your new address. The Beitragsnummer is personal and normally remains with you when you move.
If you move into a WG where another resident already pays, the new arrangement may mean that you do not need a separate contribution account for that dwelling.
If you permanently leave Germany and no longer have a contribution obligation for the dwelling, you should make sure the relevant account is properly handled rather than simply stopping payments.
The exact procedure depends on your circumstances. Keep documentation relating to your departure and notify the Beitragsservice through the appropriate process if the contribution obligation ends.
The expression “TV licence” is often used by English speakers because it provides an easy comparison with television-related charges in other countries. However, the German Rundfunkbeitrag is not simply a traditional television ownership licence.
The contribution applies to a dwelling and supports public broadcasting. That is why someone without a television can still be required to pay. Calling it the German TV tax is useful as a search term, but Rundfunkbeitrag is the official German term you should know when dealing with authorities and correspondence.
International residents often encounter the same misunderstandings after moving to Germany. Avoiding these mistakes can make dealing with the Beitragsservice much easier.
Imagine that you arrive in Germany and rent a private one-bedroom apartment in Berlin, Munich, Cologne or another German city. You are the person responsible for that dwelling and no exemption applies.
You should expect the standard contribution of €18.36 per month. You can arrange payment through the available payment methods and should keep your Beitragsnummer for future communication.
Now imagine that instead you rent a room in a four-person WG. Before registering, ask your roommates whether one of them already pays the Rundfunkbeitrag for the apartment. If someone does, you normally do not need to pay another full contribution for the same dwelling. You can agree privately on how to share the cost.
The standard contribution is currently €18.36 per month per dwelling, equivalent to €55.08 for three months and €220.32 for twelve months.
“TV tax” is a common informal English description, but the official German term is Rundfunkbeitrag. It is a broadcasting contribution associated with a dwelling rather than simply a charge for owning a television.
Generally yes. The contribution is based on the dwelling, not whether you personally own or use a television or another broadcasting device.
No. The standard contribution is generally one contribution per dwelling. The residents can privately divide the cost among themselves.
Generally yes if they live in their own dwelling. Certain students receiving qualifying benefits such as BAföG may apply for an exemption if they meet the requirements.
No. Being an apprentice does not automatically create an exemption. Certain apprentices receiving qualifying benefits may be eligible to apply for one.
Some people can receive an exemption or reduction under specific legal conditions. You generally have to apply and provide the required supporting documents.
If you already have a contribution account and remain responsible for the contribution after moving, you normally report your new address. Your Beitragsnummer is personal and generally moves with you.
Obtain the relevant Beitragsnummer from the person who pays and use the appropriate information when responding to the Beitragsservice. Do not create unnecessary duplicate contribution accounts for the same dwelling.
It is the nine-digit contribution number associated with your Rundfunkbeitrag account. It is important when making payments and communicating with the Beitragsservice.
The Rundfunkbeitrag in Germany is one of the regular administrative expenses that newcomers should understand soon after moving into a dwelling. Although people often call it the German TV tax or TV licence fee, the key concept is that the contribution is generally connected to the dwelling rather than television ownership.
If you live alone, check whether you need to register and pay the contribution. If you live in a WG, first establish whether another resident already has the contribution account. If you are a student or apprentice, do not assume that your status automatically gives you an exemption. Instead, check whether you receive a qualifying benefit and whether you meet the applicable requirements.
Finally, keep your Beitragsnummer, payment records and official correspondence safely. If your address or living arrangement changes, deal with the change rather than simply stopping payment. Understanding these basic rules can prevent unnecessary confusion and unexpected arrears while you are living in Germany.
▼
Deutsch 
Artikel Quiz
German Grammar