Rundfunkbeitrag and mail from the authorities: registering, getting exempted, recognizing deadlines
The German version of this page has been changed, this translation has not. Please rely on the German page.
Every household in Germany pays the Rundfunkbeitrag (broadcasting fee), regardless of how many people live there: one payment of 18.36 euros a month (2026), or a reduced rate of 6.12 euros for people with certain disabilities (marked “RF”). You must register “unverzüglich schriftlich” (without delay, in writing) once you move into a dwelling.
If you receive certain benefits, such as Grundsicherungsgeld (formerly Bürgergeld) or Sozialhilfe, you can apply to be exempted. This does not happen automatically — you must apply.
If you receive a notice from an authority that you think is wrong, you generally have one month to object in writing. This page explains the general rule; the specific letter always states its own deadline and how to object — follow what the letter says.
This page is information, not legal advice.
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- Register when you move inAs soon as you take a dwelling, you must register with the Beitragsservice in writing, without delay (§ 8 Abs. 1 RBStV). Liability begins on the 1st of the month in which you first hold the dwelling and ends at the end of the month in which you give it up (§ 7 Abs. 1 and 2 RBStV). Billing is quarterly (§ 7 Abs. 3 RBStV).
- Check whether you qualify for exemption Not included: Arbeitslosengeld I, Wohngeld, or Übergangsgeld — for these, you can apply for a hardship exemption instead (§ 4 Abs. 6 RBStV), granted for one year.
- Apply for the exemptionSubmit a legible copy of your benefits notice, showing your name, the benefit, and the period, to the Beitragsservice. An exemption can be granted retroactively for up to 3 years (§ 4 Abs. 4 RBStV).
- If you object to a notice: check the deadlineYou generally have one month from notification to object. An objection to the Rundfunkbeitrag must be made in writing, for the record (zur Niederschrift), or via De-Mail to [email protected] — a plain email or phone call is not valid. Submit it to the Landesrundfunkanstalt or the Beitragsservice.
- Get counseling if neededThe Migrationsberatung für erwachsene Zugewanderte (MBE, migration counseling for adult migrants) is free, confidential, and voluntary, and can help you understand letters from authorities, though it does not replace legal advice.
- An exemption from the Rundfunkbeitrag is not automatic — you must apply for it yourself, even if you receive a qualifying benefit.
- Arbeitslosengeld I, Wohngeld, and Übergangsgeld do not qualify for the standard exemption. A hardship application under § 4 Abs. 6 RBStV is the alternative for these.
- Whether and how this applies specifically in Berlin is not confirmed — no confirmed information is available for this.
- There is a discrepancy in the sources about when a postal notice counts as received: older guides state the 3rd day after mailing, while the statute (§ 41 Abs. 2 VwVfG) states the 4th day. Calculate conservatively and check the date on the letter itself.
- An objection to the Rundfunkbeitrag sent by plain email or made by phone is not valid — only written form, for the record, or the specific De-Mail address counts.
- Whether Berlin offers a choice between objection (Widerspruch) and direct legal action (Klage), as is the case in Bavaria, is not confirmed for Berlin.
- Which Landesrundfunkanstalt (state broadcasting institution) is responsible for Berlin is not named in the available sources — check the notice itself, which will state the responsible body.
- Other letters from authorities each state their own deadline in the Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung (notice of legal remedy) printed in the letter. There is no single general rule covering all authorities — always follow what the specific letter says.
- Migration counseling (MBE) can help you understand a letter, but it does not replace legal advice from a lawyer.
In depth · Legal basis, figures and practice – for counsellors and professionals
Rundfunkbeitrag (broadcasting fee): obligation and amount
Under § 2 Abs. 1 Rundfunkbeitragsstaatsvertrag (RBStV, Interstate Broadcasting Fee Treaty), in the private sphere „für jede Wohnung von deren Inhaber (Beitragsschuldner) ein Rundfunkbeitrag zu entrichten“ ("a broadcasting fee is to be paid for every dwelling by its holder (the person liable for the fee)"). Per the Verbraucherzentrale (consumer advice center), the fee is 18.36 euros per month per dwelling (2026 figure; reduced to 6.12 euros for people with disabilities and the marker "RF"), regardless of the number of occupants; in shared flats, only one resident needs to be registered. The amount of the fee is set in the Rundfunkfinanzierungsstaatsvertrag (Interstate Broadcasting Financing Treaty), which was not checked against the statutory text for this page. The fee obligation begins „mit dem Ersten des Monats, in dem der Beitragsschuldner erstmals die Wohnung innehat“ ("on the first of the month in which the person liable first holds the dwelling") and ends at the close of the month in which the holding ends (§ 7 Abs. 1 and 2 RBStV). The fee is owed monthly and paid in installments of three months each (§ 7 Abs. 3 RBStV per the version retrieved). Under § 8 Abs. 1 RBStV, holding a dwelling must be reported „unverzüglich schriftlich“ ("without delay, in writing"), as must its end (Abs. 2). § 10a RBStV permits fully automated notices where neither discretion nor a margin of judgment is involved.
Exemption and reduction
Per the rundfunkbeitrag.de page, the former benefit „Bürgergeld“ is now called „Grundsicherungsgeld“ (the term used in that source). Proof required: a clearly legible copy of the notice showing name, benefit, and benefit period. The duration of the exemption follows the validity of the notice (limited to three years for notices without a fixed end date); retroactively „bis zu drei Jahren“ ("up to three years") (§ 4 Abs. 4 RBStV). Arbeitslosengeld I, Wohngeld, and Übergangsgeld do not establish a right to exemption; a hardship application (Härtefallantrag, § 4 Abs. 6 RBStV) is possible. Secondary dwellings can be exempted under § 4a RBStV where a fee is already paid for the main dwelling or another secondary dwelling.
Objection to fee notices
Per rundfunkbeitrag.de, an objection can be filed „innerhalb eines Monats“ ("within one month"); the deadline begins with notification. Form: in writing, for the record (zur Niederschrift), or electronically via De-Mail (electronically signed) to [email protected]; a plain email or phone call is not sufficient. It is filed with the responsible Landesrundfunkanstalt (state broadcasting institution) or with the Beitragsservice. Valid grounds for objection: no registration obligation existed in the period concerned, an exemption or reduction was granted, the fee was already paid (with proof), entitlement to exemption, or a secondary-dwelling exemption.
Mail from authorities: general rules (federal law)
§ 70 Abs. 1 VwGO: the objection must be raised „innerhalb eines Monats, nachdem der Verwaltungsakt dem Beschwerten bekanntgegeben worden ist“ ("within one month after the administrative act has been notified to the person affected"), in writing, in electronic form, or for the record, with the authority that issued the administrative act; the deadline is also met by filing with the Widerspruchsbehörde (objection authority). § 41 Abs. 2 VwVfG (per gesetze-im-internet.de): a written administrative act sent by post within Germany is deemed notified on the fourth day after being handed to the postal service. § 58 Abs. 1 VwGO: the deadline for a legal remedy only begins to run if the person concerned has been informed in writing or electronically about the remedy, the authority or court, its seat, and the deadline to be observed; otherwise, filing is permissible only within one year of service, notification, or pronouncement (Abs. 2). These rules apply to administrative acts falling under administrative-court jurisdiction; social administration bodies (e.g. the Jobcenter) and tax notices follow their own procedural laws, whose deadlines are not covered in the available sources: no confirmed information is available for this. Berlin-specific particularities (e.g. exclusion or retention of the objection procedure for individual areas): no confirmed information is available for this.
Help understanding: Migrationsberatung (migration counseling)
Services per the page include, among others: communicating with authorities, residence status, and securing one's livelihood. The Landesverband Berliner Rotes Kreuz (Berlin Red Cross regional association) names, for its MBE locations in Berlin, Bundesallee 73 (Charlottenburg/Wilmersdorf and Steglitz/Zehlendorf), Neue Hochstr. 21 (Mitte), and Humannstr. 27 (Reinickendorf); email [email protected]; tel. (030) 600 300-1234 / -1236 / -1270 / -1275. Discrepancy between the sources: the federal page states an age limit of „ab 27 Jahren“ ("from age 27"); the DRK page states no age limit. For younger immigrants (Jugendmigrationsdienste, youth migration services): no confirmed information is available for this. The Liga der Wohlfahrtsverbände Berlin (Berlin welfare associations league), according to unconfirmed information, offers an overview of counseling services (PDF at berlin.de/einwanderung), which was not evaluated here. Further points of contact: see the page on lawyers and Beratungshilfe (legal aid counseling).
Gaps
No confirmed information is available for: the address and responsibility of the Landesrundfunkanstalt (state broadcasting institution) in Berlin, notice deadlines of other authorities, Berlin-specific special rules on the objection procedure, counseling for people under 27, and interpretation and language-mediation services for mail from authorities.
- What is “Rundfunkbeitrag and mail from the authorities” about?
- The Rundfunkbeitrag (broadcasting fee) costs 18.36 euros a month per household, you can apply for an exemption, and objections to letters from authorities usually have a one-month deadline.
- Which deadlines and figures matter?
- without delay: Written notification when you take a dwelling (registration) and when your details change; also deregistration once you give up the dwelling (§ 8 Abs. 1 und 2 RBStV)
- from the 1st of the month in which the dwelling is first held: Start of the payment obligation (§ 7 Abs. 1 RBStV)
- up to 3 years retroactively: Exemption from the Rundfunkbeitrag obligation (earliest 3 years before the 1st of the month of application) (§ 4 Abs. 4 RBStV; rundfunkbeitrag.de, Seite zu Empfängern von Sozialleistungen)
- 1 month after notification: Objecting to an administrative act (e.g. an assessment notice from the Beitragsservice) (§ 70 Abs. 1 VwGO; rundfunkbeitrag.de/widerspruch)
- deemed received on the 4th day after mailing: When a written administrative act sent by post counts as received (start of the objection deadline) (§ 41 Abs. 2 VwVfG (Wortlaut nach Abruf auf gesetze-im-internet.de))
- What should I do first?
- Register when you move in: As soon as you take a dwelling, you must register with the Beitragsservice in writing, without delay (§ 8 Abs. 1 RBStV). Liability begins on the 1st of the month in which you first hold the dwelling and ends at the end of the month in which you give it up (§ 7 Abs. 1 and 2 RBStV). Billing is quarterly (§ 7 Abs. 3 RBStV).
- Check whether you qualify for exemption: Not included: Arbeitslosengeld I, Wohngeld, or Übergangsgeld — for these, you can apply for a hardship exemption instead (§ 4 Abs. 6 RBStV), granted for one year.
- Apply for the exemption: Submit a legible copy of your benefits notice, showing your name, the benefit, and the period, to the Beitragsservice. An exemption can be granted retroactively for up to 3 years (§ 4 Abs. 4 RBStV).
- What should I watch out for?
- An exemption from the Rundfunkbeitrag is not automatic — you must apply for it yourself, even if you receive a qualifying benefit.
- Arbeitslosengeld I, Wohngeld, and Übergangsgeld do not qualify for the standard exemption. A hardship application under § 4 Abs. 6 RBStV is the alternative for these.
- Whether and how this applies specifically in Berlin is not confirmed — no confirmed information is available for this.
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