What is a Rundfunkbeitrag?
German broadcasting fee.
The mandatory €18.36/month household fee that surprises every expat shortly after Anmeldung.
Definition
The Rundfunkbeitrag is the statutory German public-broadcasting fee, set at €18.36 per month per household under the Rundfunkbeitragsstaatsvertrag. It is owed regardless of whether you own a TV, radio, or any device. Letters about it come from “ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice” (Cologne) and follow a fixed sequence: Anmeldung, payment confirmation, Mahnung if unpaid, Festsetzungsbescheid (formal assessment), and finally enforcement.
Who sends it
ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice in Cologne. Your Beitragsnummer (subscriber number) appears prominently. The Beitragsservice receives your address from the Bürgeramt automatically — letters typically arrive within weeks of your Anmeldung.
What it’s asking for
Depending on the letter: registration of your household (Anmeldung zum Rundfunkbeitrag), payment of overdue fees, set-up of a SEPA-Lastschrift direct debit, or a response to a Festsetzungsbescheid. Some letters request proof of exemption (Befreiung) eligibility.
Your deadline
Typical next steps
- Verify your Beitragsnummer and the address shown on the letter.
- If this is your first letter, register the household and set up SEPA-Lastschrift on the Beitragsservice website.
- If you qualify for Befreiung (recipients of Bürgergeld, BAföG, or similar benefits), submit the Befreiungsantrag with proof.
- In a shared flat, only one person pays — others can apply to be deregistered using the paying flatmate’s Beitragsnummer.
- For a Festsetzungsbescheid you dispute, file a written Widerspruch within one month, citing the Beitragsnummer.
Stated consequences under German law
The standard escalation under the Rundfunkbeitragsstaatsvertrag is: Mahnung, then Festsetzungsbescheid (a formal enforceable assessment with Säumniszuschlag), then transfer to the local Gerichtsvollzieher (bailiff). Enforcement can include Kontopfändung (bank-account levy) and wage garnishment.
Frequently asked questions
Why am I getting a Rundfunkbeitrag letter — I never signed up for anything?
Your Anmeldung at the Bürgeramt automatically forwarded your address to the Beitragsservice. Every household in Germany must register, regardless of whether anyone owns a TV or radio.
Can I cancel the Rundfunkbeitrag?
No. The fee is mandatory under the Rundfunkbeitragsstaatsvertrag. You can apply for Befreiung if you receive qualifying social benefits, or for Abmeldung if you leave Germany or live in a household where someone else already pays.
I live in a shared flat. Do we all pay separately?
No. One household equals one Rundfunkbeitrag. One flatmate pays the €18.36 per month and the others can apply to be deregistered by citing the paying person’s Beitragsnummer.
What is a Festsetzungsbescheid from the Beitragsservice?
A Festsetzungsbescheid is a formal assessment for unpaid fees, including a Säumniszuschlag (late fee). It becomes enforceable if you do not file a Widerspruch within one month of receipt.
How does Aplet help with a Rundfunkbeitrag letter?
Aplet identifies which stage the letter represents — Anmeldung, Mahnung, Festsetzungsbescheid, or enforcement — states the amount, the Beitragsnummer, the deadline, and the procedural path stated by the letter itself.
Related letters
Get yours explained in 60 seconds
Aplet reads German Amtsdeutsch — the dense, formal bureaucratic register — and returns a plain-English summary with the sender, meaning, required action, deadline, and consequences of inaction.