Leaving the church declaration

You must submit the declaration of withdrawal from the church in person to the responsible office. The resulting change in religious affiliation under registration law is transmitted electronically by the responsible office to the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt). The employer is automatically informed of the withdrawal from the church by retrieving the electronic wage tax deduction features (ELStAM), which are stored at the Federal Central Tax Office. It is therefore not necessary for you to contact the tax office.

If you are leaving the church, the municipal administration of the independent municipality, the association municipality administration and, in independent and large towns belonging to a district, the municipal administration of your place of residence or habitual abode is responsible.

You can leave the church at the municipal administration of the municipality not belonging to an association, the association municipality administration or, in cities not belonging to a district or large district, the municipal administration of your place of residence or habitual abode.

You can declare your withdrawal from a church, religious community or ideological community if you have reached the age of 14. If you have not yet reached the age of 14, your legal representative who has custody of you (parents or, if applicable, one parent) can declare your withdrawal from the church. Children who have reached the age of 12 cannot declare their withdrawal against their will.

Identity card or passport or foreign ID with a confirmation of registration that is not older than six months.

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

The declaration of resignation shall take effect at the end of the day on which the minutes of the declaration of resignation have been signed or the written declaration has been received by the competent authority. The obligation to pay church tax ends at the end of the month in which the declaration becomes effective.

• State law on the taxation of churches, religious communities and philosophical societies (KiStG)
• State law on withdrawal from religious communities (RelAuG)
• State ordinance on the fee for official acts under the state law on withdrawal from religious communities

18.01.2024