Hundesteuer Anmeldung

The respective dog tax statutes of the cities and municipalities.

Tax registration is mandatory for all dogs, regardless of breed, weight or size. Anyone taking a dog into their household must register it with their municipal or local authority.

Dog owners are liable to pay tax. A dog owner is anyone who has taken a dog into their household in their own interest or in the interest of members of their household. All dogs registered in a household are deemed to be owned jointly by their owners. If several people keep one or more dogs together, they are jointly and severally liable. Anyone who has taken a dog into care or custody or is keeping it on a trial basis or for training purposes is also deemed to be a dog owner if he or she cannot prove that the dog is already taxed in another municipality in the Federal Republic of Germany or is exempt from tax.

After registering the dog, the city or municipal administration will send you a dog tax tag for each dog together with the tax assessment notice. This tag must be put on the dog and worn at all times, for example when out walking. The period of validity of the dog tax tag varies from municipality to municipality. The start of the tax liability (for new dogs, new arrivals or litters) is also determined independently by each local authority.

The local tax authorities are responsible.

• Purchase or transfer agreement
• receipts
• Proof of relocation from another municipality

• Check with your local authority.
• If they offer an online form, fill it in, attach supporting documents and send off the application.
• Then hand in the dog tax stamp to your local authority.
• From this point on, you will pay dog tax on a regular basis.

Irrespective of the registration of a dog under tax law, dog ownership may also fall under the provisions of the Dog Law for the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (LHundG NRW).

• Tax registration is mandatory for all dogs, regardless of breed, weight or size.
• Anyone taking a dog into their household must register it with their municipal or local authority.
• A tax assessment notice will be sent to you.
• Dog tax stamp (per dog) will be sent to you.
• The period of validity of the dog tax stamp varies from municipality to municipality.
• The local tax authorities are responsible.