Germany's Rundfunkbeitrag (GEZ): 2026 Fee Explained
Germany's Rundfunkbeitrag is a flat €18.36/month fee per household, TV or not, unchanged since 2021. This explainer covers who pays, how billing starts automatically via Meldeamt data, and who qualifies for Befreiung (full exemption) or Ermäßigung (one-third reduction).
€18.36 a month is what every registered household (Wohnung) in Germany currently owes for the Rundfunkbeitrag — the public broadcasting fee still widely called "GEZ" after the office that used to collect it. It does not matter whether you own a television, a radio, or neither. If you are registered as living at an address, the fee is very likely already attached to it, or about to be.
TL;DR — Germany's Rundfunkbeitrag
- The Rundfunkbeitrag is a flat fee per Wohnung (dwelling), not per person or per device — one household, one bill, split however residents agree.
- The 2026 amount in force is €18.36/month (€220.32/year), unchanged since August 2021, despite a proposed rise that is currently stuck in court.
- Registration is often automatic: the Beitragsservice cross-checks data it receives from the Einwohnermeldeamt after you register your address (Anmeldung).
- Befreiung (full exemption) covers people on Bürgergeld, Sozialhilfe, BAföG and similar benefits; Ermäßigung (one-third reduction, €6.12/month) covers RF-mark disability cases.
- Exemptions can be backdated up to 3 years with proof — apply even if you think you missed the window.
What the Rundfunkbeitrag actually is
The Rundfunkbeitrag funds Germany's public broadcasters — ARD, ZDF, and Deutschlandradio — and is collected on their behalf by the Beitragsservice, the joint agency of those broadcasters. Its older name, GEZ (Gebühreneinzugszentrale), still shows up in everyday conversation and search results even though that office was dissolved when the funding model changed in 2013.
That 2013 reform is the detail most newcomers miss: the fee stopped being tied to owning a TV or radio and became a per-Wohnung charge. One dwelling, one fee, regardless of how many devices are inside it or how many people live there. A shared flat with four flatmates and zero televisions still owes the same €18.36 a month as a single person with three TVs.
How much it costs in 2026 — and why the amount is still contested
The amount actually billed today is €18.36 a month, which works out to €55.08 a quarter, €110.16 for six months, or €220.32 for a full year. Paying further in advance does not earn a discount.
| Billing period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | €18.36 |
| Quarterly | €55.08 |
| Semi-annual | €110.16 |
| Annual | €220.32 |
This figure has not moved since August 2021, when it was set following a Bundesverfassungsgericht (Federal Constitutional Court) ruling in July 2021 that forced the amount through after Saxony-Anhalt's parliament had blocked a scheduled increase. Since then, the broadcasting-finance commission KEF (Kommission zur Ermittlung des Finanzbedarfs) recommended raising the fee to €18.94 starting in 2025 — but the German states again failed to agree, and ARD, ZDF, and Deutschlandradio responded by filing a constitutional complaint. The Bundesverfassungsgericht held oral arguments on this case on 23 June 2026 (case numbers 1 BvR 2524/24 and 1 BvR 2525/24), with a written ruling expected later in the year.
Adding another layer, KEF quietly revised its own recommendation in February 2026: it now proposes a smaller rise to €18.64, and only from 2027 — not the originally floated €18.94 for 2025. Nothing about that proposal has taken legal effect.
Note
None of this changes what you owe right now. Whatever the court eventually decides, the amount in force for every current billing period in 2026 is €18.36/month. Do not pay a different figure based on news headlines about a possible increase — wait for an official notice from the Beitragsservice if the rate ever changes.
Who has to pay, and how billing usually starts
Every registered Wohnung in Germany owes the fee, full stop — there is no opt-out for not owning any receiving device. In a shared apartment, the law only asks that one fee be paid per address; how the flatmates split it internally is between them.
What surprises a lot of newcomers is that they rarely "sign up" for the Rundfunkbeitrag at all. When you complete your Anmeldung (residence registration) or an Ummeldung (address change) at the local registration office, that office periodically shares a defined data set — name, address, academic title, marital status, date of birth, and move-in date — with the Beitragsservice through the Meldedatenabgleich (registration data comparison). The Beitragsservice checks that data against its own records; if it finds no existing account for the address, it opens one and starts billing, retroactive to the move-in date recorded by the registration office.
If you are setting up recurring household payments around the same time — a German bank account for the SEPA direct debit, a broadband or mobile contract, or sorting out your Steuerklasse for payroll — the Rundfunkbeitrag notice tends to arrive in the same first few months, often unprompted.
Warning
Ignoring letters from the Beitragsservice does not make the fee go away. Unanswered correspondence typically escalates to a reminder, then an automatic account registration and a formal notice (Festsetzungsbescheid), and eventually enforcement proceedings (Vollstreckung) if amounts remain unpaid. If you genuinely qualify for an exemption or reduction, the fix is to apply — not to stay silent.
Second homes (Nebenwohnung)
A second registered residence — a Zweitwohnung or Nebenwohnung, common for people who commute for work — is not automatically exempt. It has to be registered like any other Wohnung, and it will generate its own fee unless you take action.
Since November 2019, anyone (or their spouse or registered life partner) who is already paying the Rundfunkbeitrag on a primary residence can apply for an exemption on a secondary residence. Timing matters: apply within three months of meeting the conditions and the exemption is backdated to when you qualified; apply later, and it only starts from the month you actually submit the request.
Befreiung and Ermäßigung: who qualifies for what
Two different relief mechanisms exist, and they are frequently mixed up. Befreiung is a full exemption — you pay nothing. Ermäßigung is a reduction to one-third of the standard fee, currently €6.12 a month. Both require an application with supporting proof; neither is applied automatically just because you might qualify.
| Category | Relief type | Typical proof required |
|---|---|---|
| Bürgergeld, Sozialhilfe, Grundsicherung im Alter/Erwerbsminderung, Sozialgeld recipients | Befreiung (full) | Current benefit notice (Bescheid) |
| Recipients of Asylbewerberleistungen | Befreiung (full) | Benefit notice from the responsible office |
| BAföG or Berufsausbildungsbeihilfe (BAB) recipients not living with parents | Befreiung (full) | BAföG/BAB award notice |
| Recipients of Blindenhilfe or Pflegehilfe under state law | Befreiung (full) | State benefit notice |
| Holders of the RF mark on a Schwerbehindertenausweis (blind/visually impaired ≥60%, deaf or severely hearing-impaired, or disabled ≥80% and unable to attend public events) | Ermäßigung (1/3, €6.12/month) | Copy of the disability ID showing the RF mark |
Because eligibility depends on the specific wording of your own Bescheid or disability ID, treat the table above as a starting map, not a final answer — the Beitragsservice makes the actual determination once it sees your documents.
How to apply
- Go to rundfunkbeitrag.de and open Bürgerinnen und Bürger → Befreiung oder Ermäßigung beantragen.
- Fill in the online form, then print it — the Beitragsservice does not accept a purely digital submission for this application.
- Sign it, and attach a copy of your proof (benefit notice or disability ID).
- Post the signed form and proof to: ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice, 50656 Köln.
Tip
An exemption or reduction can be backdated up to three years from the date you apply, as long as you can show the qualifying conditions already existed during that period. If you realize months (or years) later that you qualified all along, applying now is still worthwhile — the common approach is to gather the relevant Bescheide first and submit them together rather than assuming the past is unrecoverable.
Related household paperwork
The Rundfunkbeitrag is rarely the only recurring bill newcomers sort out in the same stretch of time as registering an address. Reviewing account and fee traps when opening a German bank account and comparing broadband and mobile contract terms tend to happen in the same first few months, alongside working out which Steuerklasse applies to your payroll setup.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay the Rundfunkbeitrag if I don't own a TV?
Yes. Since the 2013 reform, the fee is charged per Wohnung (household), not per device. Owning no television, radio, or internet-connected device does not create an exemption — only the specific Befreiung/Ermäßigung categories do.
How much is the Rundfunkbeitrag in 2026?
€18.36 a month per household — €55.08 quarterly, €110.16 semi-annually, or €220.32 a year. This figure has been unchanged since August 2021.
Will the Rundfunkbeitrag go up in 2026 or 2027?
Not yet in force. A proposed rise to €18.94 (from 2025) was blocked by the German states and is now before the Bundesverfassungsgericht, which held oral hearings on 23 June 2026 with a ruling expected later in the year. Separately, KEF's own February 2026 recommendation is a smaller rise to €18.64, and only starting in 2027. Until an official notice says otherwise, €18.36/month is what applies.
Who qualifies for a full Rundfunkbeitrag exemption (Befreiung)?
Recipients of Bürgergeld, Sozialhilfe, Grundsicherung, Sozialgeld, Asylbewerberleistungen, BAföG or BAB (when not living with parents), and certain state-law benefits such as Blindenhilfe or Pflegehilfe generally qualify for a full exemption, provided they submit the relevant benefit notice as proof.
Can I get a refund or backdated exemption once I'm approved?
Yes. Both Befreiung and Ermäßigung can be backdated up to three years from your application date, provided you can document that the qualifying conditions already existed during that earlier period.
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Eligibility for a Befreiung or Ermäßigung depends on your individual Bescheid and personal circumstances — confirm your specific situation directly with the Beitragsservice via rundfunkbeitrag.de before relying on any figure here. Alle Angaben ohne Gewähr.
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