Registration process
Find out all the details about the radio tax in Germany
How does the radio tax work? Do I need to register for it somewhere?
✅ The registration is quick and easy.
You have several options to choose from:
- You can register your primary residence or a secondary residence online.
- You can print out a pdf form and send it to the contribution service by mail.

The mailing address is:
ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice
50656 Köln
ℹ️ Registration by phone or e-mail is not possible.
❗️If you do not register with the GEZ, you will eventually receive a letter with payment information/payment reminders.
Basically, everyone who is of age and has their own apartment must register. How many TVs, radios, and computers you have in your apartment is irrelevant.
The broadcasting fee must be paid per household. By whom is irrelevant for the contribution service. If there are several residents, you can decide for yourself who will register with the GEZ. However, the others should then inform the contribution service that fees are already being paid for the apartment. Or they can deregister. In any case, no one has to pay twice.
Do international students need to pay for the radio tax in Germany?
✅ Yes, even if Germany is not your home country, you need to pay the TV and radio tax.
Since you have a Meldepflicht (obligation to register) in Germany, you will receive letters by the contribution service to collect the broadcasting contributions, even if you have not yet registered yourself and your new Adresse in Germany.
If you get a request for payment from ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice, you should therefore respond to the request. Please do not wait until reminders are sent!
How to register an apartment under someone else's Beitragsnummer?
✅ You live in a WG (shared flat), and someone in your household already pays the radio tax in Germany?
The easiest way to register an apartment under someone else's Beitragsnummer (reference number) is to do it online. So once you receive a letter and know that your household is already paying, you can simply use the existing reference number and de-register online or return the letter saying you don't have to pay.
ℹ️ It might be good to have a German-speaking person help you with this since the letter and the online services will mostly be in German.