Broadcasting fee in the private sector

In the private sector, the broadcasting fee is levied per home and does not depend on the type and number of broadcasting devices. The rule is: one home - one contribution.
The broadcasting fee covers all

• broadcasting devices,
• smartphones and
• computers

within your home and in the private cars of all residents. If a resident pays the broadcasting fee, this covers the obligation to pay the fee for all persons living in the apartment.

This regulation applies to

• families
• Shared flats
• Unmarried couples

Are you a student living in a student hall of residence? In this case, it depends on the exact spatial conditions on site. You must pay a broadcasting fee if you have your own entrance to your room directly

• from the stairwell or
• an anteroom or
• from the outside.

You do not have to pay a fee if you can only access your room via another apartment.

Note: You must pay an additional broadcasting fee for a second home.

People with disabilities and recipients of state benefits can receive relief.

Special regulations apply for companies, institutions and the self-employed.

ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Contribution Service
50656 Cologne

Service telephone for the contribution account:
Phone: +49 185 - 9995-0100

Service telephone for the broadcasting fee:
Phone: +49 185 - 9995-0888*
Fax: +49 185 - 9995-0105*

Service telephone hours:
Mon: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Tue: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Wed: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Thu: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Fri: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

* 6.5 cents/min. from German landlines, different prices for mobile phones

None

You must register with the Beitragsservice,

• if you are of legal age (18 years or older) and
• if you or another person are not yet paying the license fee for your home.

There is no obligation to pay a contribution for a vacant apartment. The prerequisite is

• that it is not occupied by anyone,
• there is no tenancy agreement for it and
• no person is registered at the residents' registration office.

The obligation to pay contributions begins on the first of the month in which you first occupy an apartment. This means that you

• live there,
• are registered there or
• are named as a tenant in the rental agreement.

For citizens:

• per apartment: 17.50 euros per month

• each additional apartment: 17.50 euros per month

• Reduced broadcasting fee (one third of the broadcasting fee): 5.83 euros

You must pay the broadcasting fee for 3 months at a time. The Beitragsservice collects it in the middle of a three-month period.

The broadcasting contribution replaced the broadcasting fee on 01.01.2013.