How do I file a Steuererklärung (tax return) in Germany?

The Steuererklärung (tax return) can be filed electronically through ELSTER (www.elster.de), which is the German tax authority's free online portal. You register with your Tax ID (Steueridentifikationsnummer) and create an account. ELSTER can pre-fill some data from employer and insurer records. Commercial software packages like Wundertax, SteuerGo, or Taxfix are also popular and more user-friendly than ELSTER itself.

The standard filing deadline is 31 July of the following year (so the 2024 return is due 31 July 2025). If you use a tax adviser (Steuerberater) or a wage tax assistance association (Lohnsteuerhilfeverein), the deadline extends to the end of February of the year after (28 February 2026 for the 2024 return).

Not everyone is required to file. Employees with one employer and no significant outside income typically do not need to file unless requested by the Finanzamt. However, filing voluntarily almost always produces a refund due to unclaimed deductions. You have four years to voluntarily file a return, meaning you can still file your 2021 return in 2025.

The Finanzamt (local tax office) processes returns and issues a Steuerbescheid (tax assessment) usually within a few weeks to a few months.