Can I also pay the license fee in cash? A new judgment of the Federal Administrative Court watsches the GEZ and says: yes. However, potential cash payers have to clear a hurdle.

Broadcasting fee: cash payment possible in exceptional cases

By direct debit, individual transfer or standing order – this is how the broadcasting fee in Germany can be paid to the contribution service of ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio. But two men from Hesse did not want to put up with that. They demanded theirs cash payment is allowed. The Federal Administrative Court has now issued a corresponding verdict.

In exceptional cases, according to the court, the license fee may actually be paid in cash. However, this only applies if the contributors can prove that they do not have a checking account or can open (source: hot online).

the hurdle for a free cash payment remains high and should not affect most of the “GEZ” critics. The two plaintiffs also have a checking account. The judgment still has an impact, because the Hessian Broadcasting Corporation now has to adjust its statutes.

Before the judgment of the Federal Administrative Court, it had involved the European Court of Justice (ECJ). At the beginning of 2021, the ECJ ruled that the acceptance of cash can be restricted for reasons of public interest if the country uses the euro as its currency. Public bodies such as the contribution service should no “unreasonable costs” by cash payment develop.

This is what the GIGA editorial team thinks of the broadcast fee:

Broadcasting contribution ensures record income

After increasing the license fee, the public service broadcasters receive more money accordingly. Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR) can look forward to an increase of 35 million euros. Meanwhile make “GEZ” refusers for a huge holewhich, according to official information from the nine state broadcasters, amounts to a total of 903 million euros.