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How is a fee the government mandates everyone pay not a tax?

A fee does government collects is tax, if it just mandates to be collected by a non-governmental org is not tax.

Government does not get involved in collecting this fee except for having a law that an organization(ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragservice = joint contribution service for ARD ZDF and DR) can collect fees from every household that uses any kind of broadcaster/receiver devices.

It does not pass through the German government so it is not a tax.

More info: https://politics.stackexchange.com/questions/27856/why-is-th...

Thanks for clarifying. I can see how that administrative difference matters. It doesn’t affect the “money out of my pocket” equation but does affect how the money is controlled.

I am guessing it’s similar to Japan’s NHK and their fees.

Sure. I just don’t see how that’s not a tax.

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