Leaving the church (Hamburg Service)

Prerequisites

• Residence in Hamburg.
• Full age:
  • Personal appearance required.
  • Power of attorney not possible.
• Minor:
  • Until the child reaches the age of 14, the legal guardians must declare their departure in person at the registry office. The presence of children aged 12 and over is required.
  • From the age of 14, the child is of legal age and can make the declaration themselves.

Documents required

Federal identity card or passport.

Please note

• The change or leaving the church will be automatically communicated to the tax office.
• Declaration of withdrawal is also possible in writing via a notary. There are additional costs, which you should clarify directly with the notary.
• The church tax obligation ends at the end of the month in which the withdrawal takes effect. From the following month you no longer have to pay church tax.

Deadlines

No

Procedure

• You can make an appointment online or by phone.

Processing time

• immediately after making an appointment

Fees

• 31 EUR.
  
  The full amount must always be paid per person, this also applies to minors. There are no discounts or exemptions.

Legal basis

• Hamburg Church Tax Act (HmbKiStG)
  https://www.landesrecht-hamburg.de/bsha/document/jlr-KiStGHAV2P2/part/X

Since September 1st, 2023 you can book appointments for leaving the religious community with the Hamburg Service, regardless of your place of residence and the competent registry office.
Churches, religious communities and ideological communities are treated equally under German law. In the following they are all referred to as religious communities. If they are corporations under public law, they can levy church taxes on their members.
Overview of religious communities - corporation under public law - see link.

Anyone wishing to leave a religious community under public law in the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg must declare their withdrawal to the competent registry office.