Festsetzungsbescheid Rundfunkbeitrag
Rundfunkbeitrag Festsetzungsbescheid: what it means and how to object
From: Your state broadcaster (Landesrundfunkanstalt), via the Beitragsservice
A Festsetzungsbescheid is an official decision. It sets how much Rundfunkbeitrag you owe, usually with a late-payment surcharge. It is also the legal basis for enforcement, so it is more serious than a reminder.
Got this letter? Get your personal explanation.Take a photo. See your deadline, amount, and next steps, in your language. First letter free.Why you got this letter
- A payment was not made in full and on time, and no reminder is required before this step.
- A direct debit was returned by your bank.
- The broadcaster says you owe contributions for a period you think you were not liable for, for example before you were registered.
- An exemption (Befreiung) was not applied or had ended.
What to do
- 1Find the date of the letter and keep the envelope. The one-month objection period starts when the decision is considered delivered.
- 2Read the amounts: which period, how much contribution, and the Säumniszuschlag (surcharge). Note the Aktenzeichen (reference number) and your Beitragsnummer.
- 3If everything is correct, pay. Partial payments are used first for costs such as surcharges, then for the oldest debt.
- 4If you cannot pay in one sum, ask the Beitragsservice about Ratenzahlung or Stundung. Do this before enforcement starts.
- 5If something is wrong, file a Widerspruch (objection) in writing within one month. Give a reason and add proof (see the example letter).
- 6Do not use a simple email or a phone call to object. The Beitragsservice says these are not valid.
Deadline
You have one month to object, counted from the day the decision is considered delivered. A letter sent by post is generally treated as delivered on the fourth day after posting under the applicable state law. After that the decision becomes final.
If you do nothing
If you neither pay nor object, the decision becomes final and cannot be challenged anymore. The Festsetzungsbescheid is an enforceable title. A Mahnung with fees can follow, and then enforcement by the responsible authority or a bailiff, for example account or wage garnishment. Enforcement costs are charged to you.
Can you object?
Yes. File a Widerspruch within one month after the notice is considered delivered. Send it, in writing or in person for the record (zur Niederschrift), to your state broadcaster or the Beitragsservice (the addresses are on the notice). A signed De-Mail also works. A simple email or a phone call does not. State a reason. Valid reasons the Beitragsservice lists include: you were not registered or liable in that period, an exemption was granted for it, or you can prove you already paid. In Bavaria, the notice may let you go straight to the administrative court. Follow the instructions in your notice.
Words in this letter
- Festsetzungsbescheid
- An official decision that sets the amount you owe. It is the basis for enforcement.
- Widerspruch
- A formal objection. It must be made in time and in the right form.
- Säumniszuschlag
- A late-payment surcharge of 1 percent of the unpaid amount, at least 8 euros.
- Bekanntgabe
- The moment a decision counts as delivered to you. The objection period starts then.
- Vollstreckung
- Enforcement, for example garnishing a bank account or wages.
- Aktenzeichen
- The reference number of your case. Always write it in your reply.
Example reply
Object (Widerspruch) to the Festsetzungsbescheid. Send it in writing, signed.
[Vor- und Nachname]
[Anschrift]
An: [Landesrundfunkanstalt oder Beitragsservice, Adresse laut Bescheid]
[Ort], [Datum]
Betreff: Widerspruch gegen den Festsetzungsbescheid vom [Datum], Aktenzeichen [Aktenzeichen], Beitragsnummer [Beitragsnummer]
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,
hiermit lege ich Widerspruch gegen den oben genannten Festsetzungsbescheid ein.
Begründung: [Zutreffendes eintragen, zum Beispiel: Ich war im Zeitraum [von–bis] nicht beitragspflichtig, weil … / Für den Zeitraum [von–bis] wurde mir eine Befreiung bewilligt. / Ich habe den Betrag am [Datum] gezahlt, der Zahlungsnachweis liegt bei.]
Bitte bestätigen Sie mir den Eingang meines Widerspruchs schriftlich.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
[Unterschrift]
[Vor- und Nachname]Show English translation
[Full name] [Address] To: [State broadcaster or Beitragsservice, address as on the notice] [Place], [date] Subject: Objection to the assessment notice dated [date], reference [reference], contribution number [number] Dear Sir or Madam, I hereby object to the assessment notice named above. Reasons: [Fill in what applies, for example: I was not liable for the period [from–to] because … / An exemption was granted to me for the period [from–to]. / I paid the amount on [date]; proof of payment is attached.] Please confirm in writing that you received my objection. Kind regards [Signature] [Full name]
Questions people ask
Do I have to pay the Säumniszuschlag?
The Beitragsservice says the surcharge is 1 percent of the unpaid contribution, at least 8 euros, and it is set together with the Festsetzungsbescheid. If you think the whole decision is wrong, object to it in time.
When does the one-month period start?
When the decision is considered delivered to you. By post, the Beitragsservice says this is generally the fourth day after posting under state law. Keep the envelope and write down the date you got the letter.
I already paid. Can I still object?
Yes. Proof that you paid earlier is one of the reasons the Beitragsservice lists for a Widerspruch. Attach a copy of the payment receipt.
What if I cannot pay everything now?
You can ask for Ratenzahlung or a Stundung (deferral of at most two years). Ask in writing. Current contributions must still be paid on time during a deferral.
Sources
- Rundfunkbeitrag: Widerspruch
- Rundfunkbeitrag: Zahlung (Mahnung, Vollstreckung, Ratenzahlung, Stundung)
Updated 2026-10-20. This page explains a common type of letter; it is not legal advice. Your letter may differ, so check its dates and amounts.