ORF-Beitrags Service (OBS) letter explained in English
ORF fee office. Collects the ORF fee (ORF-Beitrag) for public TV and radio. Every household with a main home in Austria pays it, even without a TV.
Letters you may get
- Zahlungsaufforderung — your fee bill
- Zahlungserinnerung or Mahnung — you paid late
- Bescheid — an official decision that you owe the fee
What to do
- Only one payment per household. If someone in your home already pays, tell them.
- People with low income or some benefits can apply to be exempt (Befreiung).
- Find the deadline. Look for “Frist”, “bis zum”, “innerhalb”.
- Write the reference number from the letter on everything you send back, and keep copies.
- If you disagree with a decision, object in writing before the deadline (“Beschwerde”, “Vorstellung”, “Einspruch”, “Beschwerde”). See the template.
Words you may see
- Bescheid
- Official decision. It becomes final if you don’t object in time.
- ORF-Beitrag
- Fee for public TV and radio. One payment per household with a main home in Austria, even without a TV.
Questions
What is the ORF-Beitrags Service (OBS)?
ORF fee office. Collects the ORF fee (ORF-Beitrag) for public TV and radio. Every household with a main home in Austria pays it, even without a TV.
How long do I have to answer a letter from the ORF-Beitrags Service (OBS)?
It depends on the letter. Look for words like “Frist”, “bis zum”, “innerhalb” — they mark the deadline. In Austria, an official letter sent by normal post usually counts as delivered on the 3rd working day after it was posted. A registered letter (RSa or RSb) counts as delivered on the day you get it — or, if you were not home, usually on the first day you can pick it up at the post office. To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“Beschwerde”, “Vorstellung”, “Einspruch”, “Beschwerde”).
Can I read a ORF-Beitrags Service (OBS) letter in English?
Yes. Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It explains the letter in plain English, finds the deadline and the amount, and gives you ready-made replies in German. Your letter never leaves your device.
Other offices in Austria
Finanzamt Österreich · Familienbeihilfe (Finanzamt Österreich) · AMS (Arbeitsmarktservice) · Magistrat / Bezirkshauptmannschaft · MA 35 / Niederlassungsbehörde · Meldeamt / Meldeservice · ÖGK (Österreichische Gesundheitskasse) · SVS (Sozialversicherung der Selbständigen)