Broadcasting fee in the private sector Registration

If you are an adult, you must pay a broadcasting fee for your home.

Please note:

If another person already pays a license fee for your home, you are exempt from paying.

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

• informal letter by post or
• completed registration form on the Internet

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.

You must register your home with the relevant authority. You can do this

• informally in writing,
• fill out a form or
• use an online service.

The form is usually available in the municipalities. You can also download it from the Internet.

Tip: If you are no longer required to pay the contribution, for example because another resident in the apartment is already paying the broadcasting contribution, you can deregister with the contribution service.

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 per month

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.

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