Within Germany there is a mandatory city registration: Everyone who moves into an apartment or a room within Chemnitz or Zwickau, must register within 2 weeks at the responsible registration office! In Zwickau there is no second residence tax yet. In , the tax was introduced within the City of Chemnitz. Students are not generally exempt from paying this tax. In Chemnitz, the person who is actually tenant of the apartment is liable to pay this tax.
Similarly, the tax for the tenants with a main residence in another city within Germany, which only inhabits a "room" for example in the student hall of residence as a secondary residence at Chemnitz does not have to pay the second residence tax.
Everyone who registers in Chemnitz with a secondary residence will receive a letter from the City of Chemnitz. This also applies if there is an exemption status. Corresponding information is also given in an enclosed fill-in assistance.
Further information can be found on the website of the City of Chemnitz. You can also find the application for welcome payment online. Please read the accompanying leaflet. The applications will be processed in the period from January to May of the following year, hence, you can expect the payment after this period.
Please note that the City of Chemnitz decides annually about the existence of the welcome payment. This booklet contains coupons for sports, cultural and leisure activities within the City of Zwickau and is valid for one year starting from the date of issue. This system was installed in Germany to offer people staying in Germany independent and critical information provided by the public broadcasting stations in Germany.
