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Full interpretation: What is the German TV fee? What are the consequences of non-handover? An online registration guide is attached

author:German feel
Full interpretation: What is the German TV fee? What are the consequences of non-handover? An online registration guide is attached

For some of you who are new to Germany or planning to go to Germany, you may not have heard of the TV broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag).

Full interpretation: What is the German TV fee? What are the consequences of non-handover? An online registration guide is attached

Don't worry, after you've worked hard to find a house to do, as soon as you go to the city office, it will be the first to send you a "congratulations". But when you open it with joy, you will find that it is actually a reminder for the TV fee.

So, what exactly is this TV fee that everyone has to pay?

Full interpretation: What is the German TV fee? What are the consequences of non-handover? An online registration guide is attached

Rundfunkbeitrag is a broadcasting licence fee used primarily to finance public broadcasting media (including radio, television and the Internet) in Germany.

Before 2013, it was called GEZ before it was renamed. At that time, although it was also compulsory, it was not as rogue as it is now: the family only charged if there was a TV and radio.

But since 2013, all people living in Germany who are over 18 years of age must pay this fee on a household-by-household basis, regardless of whether they have a TV, radio or internet at home, and whether you are German or not.

How much does it cost?

Full interpretation: What is the German TV fee? What are the consequences of non-handover? An online registration guide is attached

As mentioned earlier, this fee is not per capita, but per household - 18.36 euros / month:

(1) Shared housing. The owners of the household can share a share of the fee, only need to choose one of them to register as the main tenant to pay the fee, and the others can AA.

(2) Student dormitory. If each dormitory is a separate room, and the outside of the room is directly a common corridor, then it needs to be paid as one household; But if it is similar to a shared house, after entering the door from the public corridor, there are several rooms inside, then only one money needs to be paid.

(3) Homestay. Again, only one payment is required.

(4) Settle at multiple addresses. If the change is not made in time after moving, in this case, if the payment is not made monthly, not only will the old address be deducted, but the new address will also receive a supplementary payment slip after the address is changed.

How to hand it over?

Full interpretation: What is the German TV fee? What are the consequences of non-handover? An online registration guide is attached

Generally, even if you do not actively register, after you are in the municipality, the municipality will notify the local broadcasting service Beitragsservice, and soon you will receive their reminders.

Or you can choose to log in to its official website to register online, the specific registration process is as follows:

1. As shown above, click to open the official website rundfunkbeitrag.de and select Wohnunganmelden (accommodation registration);

Full interpretation: What is the German TV fee? What are the consequences of non-handover? An online registration guide is attached

2. Fill in the relevant information;

Note that if you are new to Germany, check Nein (No) here; If you have just moved, you will need to check JA and fill in the details of your old residence.

3. After filling in, click Weiter to enter the next step;

Full interpretation: What is the German TV fee? What are the consequences of non-handover? An online registration guide is attached

4. In the option of abweichende Adresse (different address), Nein is generally selected;

Because this means that your delivery address is different from your actual address.

Full interpretation: What is the German TV fee? What are the consequences of non-handover? An online registration guide is attached

5. Select the payment date;

In addition to monthly payments, quarterly, semi-annual or annual payments are also available.

6. Select a payment method;

A more convenient way is automatic payment (Lastschrift), you only need to fill in the bank account information, and it will be automatically debited every time the payment date comes.

Alternatively, you can choose to transfer the money manually, but this also requires filling in the bank account information.

7. After confirming that the information is correct, click Anmelden to register successfully.

What happens if I don't hand it over?

Full interpretation: What is the German TV fee? What are the consequences of non-handover? An online registration guide is attached

Whether you forget to pay it or you don't pay it directly, the money should be paid in the end, and a late fee (i.e. 1% of the receivable) will be charged, which is generally a direct late fee of 8 euros per quarter.

In addition, if you do not pay it, the bill will continue to accumulate. By the time you are more than 6 months old, you will receive a leaflet on the law, and if you still ignore it, you may end up in jail.

In addition, your SCHUFA will also be affected, which will affect your future loan application, personal bank account opening, house purchase, etc., not only that, this record will be kept on SCHUFA for 10 years.

Who is exempt from paying the TV bill?

  • Exemption for persons with audiovisual impairments (with RF disability certificate);
  • Deaf-mute;
  • elderly people in nursing homes;
  • refugees seeking asylum;
  • Recipients of social allowances;
  • Students applying for student loans/vocational education grants (BaföG and Ausbildungsförderung)

Do I need to write off when I return home?

Full interpretation: What is the German TV fee? What are the consequences of non-handover? An online registration guide is attached

Yes, otherwise the fees will always accrue.

How to cancel out: Just download the Abmeldung form on the official website, print and fill it out, and send it back.

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