Rundfunkbeitrag (TV and Radio Fee)
Register your home with ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice (18.36 EUR per month per apartment).
Configure your citizenship, housing, and job status to get a prioritized timeline.
This fee is charged per apartment, not per person. If you move into a flatshare (WG), someone is likely already paying it. If you ignore the letters instead of replying with your flatmate's 9-digit Beitragsnummer, they will open a new account in your name and eventually send debt collection.
STEP-BY-STEP ACTION PROTOCOL (4 STEPS)
- 1
If you live in a WG, ask your flatmates for their 9-digit Beitragsnummer.
- 2
Go to rundfunkbeitrag.de. If someone already pays, select 'Wohnung abmelden / Zu einer anderen Person ziehen' and enter their number.
- 3
If nobody pays in your apartment yet, register a new account (Anmelden).
- 4
Save your confirmation page or email as proof.
OFFICIAL PORTALS & LEGAL REFERENCES
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every roommate in a flatshare (WG) have to pay Rundfunkbeitrag?[FAQ]
No. Under § 2 Abs. 1 RBStV, the license fee is assessed once per residence regardless of resident count. If one tenant pays, all other flatmates are legally exempt by registering the existing 9-digit Beitragsnummer.
What happens if I ignore the Rundfunkbeitrag letters?[FAQ]
The authority opens an automatic registration, assesses back-pay with late penalties, and forwards claims to municipal debt enforcement (Vollstreckung), which can freeze your German bank account.