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Waiver of dog tax - Financial emergency

If you live on unemployment benefit II, social welfare or a comparably low income, you can apply for a dog tax remission in some cases.

Apply online Competent authority

Prerequisites

To apply for a remission, you must fulfil the following requirements:

  • You receive unemployment benefit II, social assistance or have an income of a comparable or lower amount.
  • You have not caused your financial hardship yourself.
  • You have no arrears with the City of Munich or are making serious efforts to pay outstanding debts.

You must also fulfil one of the following conditions:

  • You acquired your dog when the financially difficult situation did not yet exist or was foreseeable.
  • The dog is essential to you for medical reasons. A merely useful or beneficial aspect of dog ownership is not sufficient.
  • You have taken on the dog for particularly important moral reasons - for example, because relatives in need of care or deceased relatives can no longer look after the dog.

Required documents

First-time application We would be happy to advise you, even before you submit your application, on whether a waiver is possible in your case and which documents you need to provide. We usually require the following documents:

  • An application via our online form or an informal letter of application detailing your financial situation
  • a current social security decision or proof of income
  • if medically necessary: a medical certificate confirming that your dog has an immediate and significant impact on your disability or illness, or provides indispensable assistance to a very significant degree that directly alleviates the disadvantages caused by the specific disability or illness
  • In the case of a moral obligation: a statement explaining why you have taken in the dog
  • A telephone number for the prompt resolution of any queries

Annual renewal application

  • Application via our online form
  • Current social security decision or proof of income

Links and downloads

Find the responsible authority

Please indicate if your dog is already registered.

Related services

Deregistration of a dog

If your dog has died, you give it up or you move away from Munich, you must deregister your dog from the dog tax within two weeks.

Exemption from dog tax - assistance dog

If you or your household members keep an assistance dog in accordance with the Assistance Dog Ordinance, you can apply for exemption from dog tax.

Exemption from dog tax - shelter dog

If your dog comes from the Munich animal shelter, you can have it exempted from dog tax for two years.

Loss of or damage to the dog tax tag

If your dog's tax tag has been lost or damaged, you must apply for a replacement tag.

Exemption from dog tax - Special tasks

If you keep your dog for professional, commercial, public or charitable purposes, you can be exempt from dog tax.

Exemption from dog tax - dog licence

If your dog has passed the test at a dog school, you can have it exempted from dog tax for the following year.

Incidents with dangerous dogs

All incidents involving dangerous dogs, such as "dog bites human" or "dog bites dog", should be reported immediately to the police or the district administration department.

Negative certificate for fighting dogs

The keeping of category 1 fighting dogs is not permitted in Munich. You need a negative certificate for dogs with suspected fighting dog characteristics.