You can submit your registration online or by post.

Online application:

• Call up the online application on the federal portal. This will guide you step by step through the necessary information, which you can enter electronically.
• Note: You will need a valid ELSTER certificate to register for the online application.
• You will need around 20 minutes to complete the online application.
• First enter the details of your company.
• Then answer questions about the sector or activity of your company and about the commissioning of self-employed artists or journalists.
• If available, upload proof of the activities carried out by your company. This may be a business registration, an excerpt from the commercial register or articles of association, for example.

Registration by post:

• On the website of the Künstlersozialkasse, a "Registration and survey form for checking the obligation to pay and the amount of the artists' social security contribution" is available in the media center for companies and exploiters.
• Please complete the form in full. This includes the details of your company, information on the sector or activity of your company and information on the commissioning of self-employed artists or journalists.
• If available, attach proof of the activities performed by your company to the form. This can be, for example, a business registration, an extract from the commercial register or articles of association.
• Send the completed form to the Künstlersozialkasse. You can also register informally with the Künstlersozialkasse.

After receiving your registration, the Künstlersozialkasse will check your details. If there are any queries or further documents are required, the Künstlersozialkasse will contact you.

If the Künstlersozialkasse confirms the obligation to pay contributions:

• You will receive a notice confirming your obligation to pay contributions.
• If you have already submitted remuneration declarations, you will also be informed of the amount of the artists' social security contribution to be paid. You will also receive information on whether you have to pay monthly advance payments for the current calendar year and, if so, how much.

If the Künstlersozialkasse denies the obligation to pay the levy:

• You will receive a notification that, at the time of the check, no obligation to pay the levy for your company can be determined on the basis of the information you have provided and the documents available.
• In this case, you are obliged to report to the Künstlersozialkasse again if the circumstances in your company change and there is an obligation to pay contributions.

Your registration must be submitted by March 31 of the following year at the latest if the requirements for the tax obligation were met in the previous calendar year.