How can Germans just “not pay” their church tax? It’s not voluntary. The govt taxes individuals at a set rate, and redistributes the money to the taxpayer’s designated religion. There is a non-sectarian service-oriented option for people who are nones. But 9 percent of your income goes to something. Is it helpful to encourage people to break the law?
That is not true.
Members of a religious community under public law may formally declare their wish to leave the community to state (not religious) authorities. The obligation to pay church taxes ends once such a declaration has been made.