Dog tax calculator 2026

The dog tax (Hundesteuer) is a local tax for keeping a dog. Every city sets the amount in its own bylaw. That is why the same dog costs very different amounts depending on where you live.

Among the 50 largest German cities, the first dog is cheapest in Augsburg (€84 a year) and most expensive in Mainz (€186). The average is about €131.

Many cities scale the tax by the number of dogs. In some cities, especially in North Rhine-Westphalia, the higher rate then applies to every dog in the household. The calculator takes this into account.

We checked all rates on 22 Oct 2026 in the bylaws and on the city websites and check them again every year at the turn of the year. Anything we could not verify is marked as unknown.

The tax depends on where your main residence is, not on your nationality. If you live in a German city with a dog, you usually have to register it with the local tax office.