If you wish to leave a religious community, you must register this with the relevant authority.

You can declare your withdrawal from a church, religious community, or ideological community once you have reached the age of 14. If you have not yet reached the age of 14, your legal representative who is responsible for your care (parents, or one parent if applicable) can declare your withdrawal from the church. For children who have reached the age of 12, withdrawal cannot be declared against their will.

You must submit your declaration of withdrawal from the church in person to the relevant authority. The resulting change in religious affiliation will be electronically transmitted by the relevant authority to the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt). Your employer will be automatically notified of your withdrawal from the church by retrieving the electronic income tax deduction characteristics (ELStAM) stored at the Federal Central Tax Office. It is therefore not necessary for you to visit the tax office in person.

The declaration of withdrawal shall take effect at the end of the day on which the written declaration of withdrawal has been signed or the written declaration has been received by the competent authority. The obligation to pay church tax shall end at the end of the month in which the declaration takes effect.

You can leave the church at the municipal administration office of the independent municipality, the association of municipalities administration office, or, in independent cities and large district cities, at the city administration office of your place of residence or habitual abode.

Identity card or passport or foreign identity card with a registration confirmation that is no more than six months old.

You can also provide information about the place of baptism. However, this information is voluntary.

• Fee: EUR 30.
  00 Fee for leaving the church

• Card payment (debit, credit, Visa, Mastercard, etc.)
• Mobile payments
• Cash payments are not possible!