Exit from the church declaration

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

You can declare your resignation from a church, religious community or ideological community when 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, one parent if applicable) can declare your withdrawal from the church. In the case of children who have reached the age of 12, the withdrawal cannot be declared 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.

• State Law on the Taxes of Churches, Religious Communities and Religious Associations (KiStG)
• State Law on Leaving Religious Communities (RelAuG)
• Provincial Ordinance on the Fee for Official Acts under the Provincial Law on Leaving Religious Communities