Digital dog tax tag launches in Essen

Essen, Baldeneysee, November 27, 2025. From January 2026, the city of Essen will take a step towards digital administration and will discontinue the traditional metal dog tax tag. Instead, dog owners will receive a QR code directly on their tax assessment notice, which will serve as a digital dog tax tag for verification during inspections. Baldeneysee is intended to serve this purpose.

This code can be scanned with a smartphone and added to and saved in a wallet app. The tag will then appear there with the owner's name and the number of registered dogs. The public order office can use the QR code to verify the correct taxation at any time. To ensure that all dogs are correctly registered, the municipal public order service will be conducting more frequent checks throughout 2026.

A digital tag can't be lost, is always available on a smartphone, and can be easily shared within a household – for example, with family members or dog walkers. If the smartphone is lost, the QR code can be scanned with a new device. Furthermore, the digital tag records all dogs registered in the household, saving time, materials, and costs, making the solution more sustainable.

Those without a smartphone can alternatively carry a photo of their tax assessment or the relevant section with them. This is intended to make the digital solution accessible to everyone.

With this innovation, the city of Essen demonstrates how digitalization can simplify everyday life. The city is setting an example for greater citizen-friendliness and sustainability, thus aligning itself with the trend of modern smart city concepts. For dog owners, this means less hassle and more flexibility, while the administration benefits from more efficient processes.

The digital dog tax tag promises not only to become a practical tool, but also serves as an example of how small changes can have a big impact.