Aachen · Steuer-ID / Finanzamt
Checklist last verified 2026-06-11
Get your tax ID & tax class in Aachen
After your Anmeldung in Aachen, your tax ID (Steuer-Identifikationsnummer) is generated automatically and posted to you — you don't apply for it. The Finanzamt is where you go for everything else tax-related: changing tax class, registering as a freelancer, or filing a return, most of it now handled online through ELSTER.
Free. The tax ID arrives by post 2–3 weeks after your Anmeldung.
Your tax ID (Steuer-ID) is generated automatically and posted to you a few weeks after your Anmeldung — you don't apply for it. Give it to your employer fast: without it you're taxed at the highest emergency rate (tax class 6) until it's on file, then refunded later. The Finanzamt is also where you change tax class (e.g. married couples to 3/5 or 4/4) — most of it via ELSTER online.
What you need to bring
- Tax ID (Steuer-ID)Required
How to get it: Mailed automatically ~2–3 weeks after your first Anmeldung. Lost it? Find it on a payslip or tax assessment, or request it again from the BZSt online.
- MeldebescheinigungRequired
📋 Bring the original, not a copy
How to get it: You receive it at your Anmeldung appointment at the Bürgeramt. Lost it? Request a new copy at the Bürgeramt (small fee, often bookable online).
- Marriage certificate (for a tax-class change)If applicable
📋 Bring the original, not a copy
How to get it: From the registry office (Standesamt) where you married, or your home country's authority. Foreign certificates often need a certified translation or apostille.
Can you do it online?
Tax class changes and most Finanzamt matters run online via ELSTER — no appointment needed.
Open the official portal ↗Good to know
- Didn't get the letter? You can request your tax ID again from the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern — it's reissued by post, never by phone or email.
- Give your tax ID to your employer fast: without it you're taxed at the highest emergency rate (tax class 6) until it's on file, then refunded later.
- Married couples can split into tax classes 3/5 or 4/4 — the right choice can noticeably change monthly net pay, so it's worth a quick check.
- Freelancers register via the Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung on ELSTER; this is also where you get your separate tax number (Steuernummer).
Frequently asked questions
What do I need for Steuer-ID / Finanzamt in Aachen?
You'll need 2 key documents: Tax ID (Steuer-ID), Meldebescheinigung. Aachen (home to RWTH) has a big international student community and sits on the Belgian–Dutch border, so offices are used to newcomers; it uses the NRW state portals.
Can I do Steuer-ID / Finanzamt online in Aachen?
Tax class changes and most Finanzamt matters run online via ELSTER — no appointment needed.
Which office handles Steuer-ID / Finanzamt in Aachen?
Get your tax ID & tax class in Aachen is handled at the local level in North Rhine-Westphalia. The exact office and any forms are linked from the official source on this page, and once you're on the portal, the free TiG Pilot extension explains each field in plain English.
Checklist last verified 2026-06-11. Rules vary by office and change over time — always confirm with the official source linked above.