Summary

This webpage provides instructions on how to manage the radio tax in a flatshare (WG) in Germany, including how to de-register from paying the tax if a roommate is already paying it.

Abstract

The webpage explains that every household in Germany is required to pay a flat rate for public broadcasting fees, known as the GEZ. It discusses the situation where multiple individuals are living in a flatshare (Wohngemeinschaft) and only one person needs to pay the fee. The page provides two methods for de-registering from the radio tax if a roommate is already paying it, including the necessary information and steps to follow.

Opinions

The author recommends paying the required flat rate for the broadcasting license fee, as ignoring it is not worth the time and effort.
The author suggests that if a roommate is already paying the radio tax, individuals can register themselves to that roommate and contribute to the payment, rather than paying the tax separately.
The author provides two methods for de-registering from the radio tax, both of which require certain information and steps to follow.
The author encourages individuals to follow the instructions provided and to give applause if they found the article useful.
The author promotes an AI service that provides similar performance and functions to ChatGPT Plus(GPT-4) but at a more cost-effective price.

How to manage the radio tax in a flatshare (WG) in Germany

what is GEZ in Germany ?

‘People living in Germany are legally required to pay public broadcasting fees that help fund public radio and television stations. Every household is charged a flat rate for the broadcasting license fee. Only one adult per household has to file and pay the fee’.

You might ask, why this GEZ Germany wants you to pay broadcasting fees even if you are not using their services? It is recommended to pay the required flat rate, as ignoring this tax is just not worth the time and effort. In Germany, every eligible household pays one fee. This means 18.36 (Nov. 2021) euros per month, this sums up to 220 euros per year.

How does it work if you are living in a flatshare (WG) in Germany?

Let’s say that you are living in a flatshare (Wohngemeinschaft) with your roommates and you have moved in recently. After the city registration ‘stadt anmeldung’ the radio guys will hunt you down like always and will send you a letter to pay for a radio tax. If a roommate from your flatshare is already paying the radio tax then you can register yourself to a roommate who is already paying the radio tax. Then you will be simply de-registered from radio tax and you do not have to pay the tax just by yourself. Rather, you can contribute to the roommate who is paying the radio tax.

How do I de-register from paying radio tax in Germany?

Method I:

You need Three things to get yourself de-registered from radio tax. First and the last name, the ‘Rundfunk-Beitragsnummer’ (9 Digit) of the roommate who is paying the radio tax and your city registration proof.
Simply visit the website Link and select, weil ich zu einem anderen Beitragszahler ziehe.
Enter the details of the roommate who is paying the radio tax in place of ‘Angaben zum anderen Beitragszahler (Mitbewohner)’
Then enter your details in place of ‘Daten zum abzumeldenden Beitragskonto’
Upload proof of your city registration in place of ‘Nachweis’. This is it!

Method II:

For second method, You also need Three things to get yourself de-registered from radio tax. Your file number ‘Aktenzeichen’ (10 Digit) found at the top right of the letter and the postcode ‘Postzahl’ mentioned on the letter. ‘Rundfunk-Beitragsnummer’ (9 Digit) of person paying the tax.

You can visit the website Link (it’s a different link than Method I) and provide your File number and postcode under ‘1. Aktenzeichen’. Then click on ‘weiter’ as per below screenshot.

Proceed further by filling ‘2. Antworten’. Confirm with “Ja” if the address they chose to contact you is correct. Select “Nein” if it is incorrect.
If your roommate is already paying, then select ‘My roommate already pays the broadcasting fee for this apartment’ (screenshot for German version). Then provide the ‘Rundfunk-Beitragsnummer’ (9 Digit) of your roommate and click on ‘weiter’.

Next step is an optional form which is ‘3. Ergänzende Angaben’. Where you can give your contact details and Click on ‘Weiter”.

In the Last step, ‘4. Zusammenfassung’ Check whether your data is correct. If not, please correct by clicking on the green button “Korrigieren”. In order to complete the form, fill in the security numbers you see in the red field. Simply de-register yourself from radio tax by clicking on “Absenden”.

If you found this article useful then please give your applaud and follow for more interesting articles.