GEZ in Germany: How to pay radio tax in Germany

What is the radio tax Germany, also known as GEZ, for? Why is it mandatory, and who pays it? We'll answer all of these questions in this guide to GEZ in Germany.

Marle

4 minute read

·

Updated on 20 Sep 2024

·

Renting

As an expat living in Germany, you mightn’t be familiar with all the taxes you must pay. Rundfunkbeitrag is the German name for a monthly radio tax (also known as GEZ in Germany) that you have to pay while living in Germany. In this article, we’ll look into everything you need to know about your radio tax in Germany, from what it’s for to how to pay it.

GEZ is a broadcasting fee or radio tax that you pay monthly, quarterly, once, or twice a year, depending on your preference. It’s also known by its German name, Rundfunkbeitrag, which translates to "broadcasting fee." Some people call it a radio tax in Germany.

GEZ stands for Gebühreneinzugszentrale which is the old name of the public broadcasting fee collection agency. The formal name for this agency now is Beitragsservice von ARD, ZDF und Deutschlandradio, but everyone calls it the GEZ. The radio tax itself is also referred to as the GEZ.

Why is there a radio tax in Germany?

Now that most people mainly use streaming services to watch their favourite shows and movies, you might wonder why Germany has the Rundfunkbeitrag radio tax.

The German broadcasting licence fee finances public broadcasting companies. GEZ Deutschland is a state organisation whose broadcasting contributions pay for producing public television and radio stations, whether or not you use them. If nothing else, it’s worthwhile tuning into German television and radio whenever you can to help you learn some German and make use of this tax you must pay.

Paying the GEZ is a topic frequently debated in Germany. However, German culture is pretty strict with following rules, so people pay the tax even if they don’t agree with it.

Every German household must pay their radio tax in Germany, even if you don’t have a television or radio at home.

As the Rundfunkbeitrag is a mandatory tax per household, you’ll pay one set fee regardless of how many people are in your household. This can be beneficial if you rent an apartment or house with other people, but if you live alone at your address or in your own space, it’s up to you to pay.

The radio tax in Germany (or GEZ) is a flat rate of €18.36 per month, which adds up to €220.32 per year. As mentioned before, you can pay the GEZ quarterly, bi-annually, or annually.

Some people are exempt from paying the GEZ if they cannot afford it. If you’re studying in Germany, you may be exempt from paying the radio tax in Germany if you can prove you receive BaföG or an allowance for vocational training.

However, if you don’t receive any state funding, you may not be able to get an exemption. You must pay the GEZ as any other adult citizen. This is true even for international students or scholarship holders. Most international students in Germany have to prove they have the finances to study there, so it's unlikely they'll be exempt.

What if only one person in a house share is exempt from paying GEZ?

For a household to be exempt from paying the GEZ, all members of the household must be exempt from paying.

Paying your radio tax in Germany can be slightly confusing if you live in a shared student residence but have your own space. Thankfully, GEZ Deutschland has provided clear guidelines for this situation:

• Is your room located in a generally accessible hallway? Then, it’s considered a flat, and you must pay your GEZ individually.

One flat = one contribution. It doesn't matter whether you share your bathroom and kitchen with others.

If you live in a WG in Germany, you’ll most likely be able to split the fee with your flatmates. In a WG, only one person should register to pay the GEZ on behalf of the household. If you live in a student dorm, you’ll probably have to pay the fee yourself.

You’ll receive a yellow invoice with all payment information indicating a payment due date. You must settle the payment within 4 weeks of the due date.

Here’re some ways to pay your radio tax in Germany:

• SEPA direct debit: This is probably the most convenient and secure payment method. All you have to do is fill out an online form, make changes to your contribution account and the contribution will be collected as a direct debit.
• Bank transfer: Select the correct bank details and enter your 9-digit contribution number as a reference for payment. You can use the QR code on your prepared transfer form via your banking app to speed up the process. Bank transfers might be more complicated using a foreign bank account, so make sure you set up a German bank account to make life easier.

Your contribution number is on your registration confirmation, on the payment request, or at the top right of the letter from the contribution service. Your payment will link to your contribution number.

You can pay GEZ Germany at these intervals:

• Half-way through the month, every 3 months, paying €55.08
• Prepay for a quarter at the beginning of the quarter, paying €55.08
• Prepay for half a year, at the beginning of the half, paying €110.16
• Prepay for a year, at the beginning of the year, paying €220.32

If you miss your payment—or refuse to pay it—you'll face a late payment surcharge, which is equal to 1% of the contribution debt but no less than €8.

Let’s say you decide to move out of your shared apartment in Hamburg and make the move to a studio apartment in Berlin. If you’re the person who was registered to pay GEZ in your old place, you’ll need to de-register for that address and re-register your new address with the GEZ.

If you’re moving in with someone who already pays broadcasting fees, you can easily cancel your old registration using the online form (you can't cancel by phone or e-mail).

• Select a reason for deregistering your flat ("I'm moving abroad permanently", "I'm moving to another contributor") and follow the next steps.
• Here, you can directly upload proofs such as your registration certificate.

Now that you’ve got an insight into how the radio tax in Germany works, you should have no problem paying your taxes in your German home.