Germany · Einkommensteuererklärung

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File an income-tax return in Germany

Filing an annual tax return in Germany often gets employees a refund — the average is well over €1,000. You submit it online via ELSTER (free) or an English-friendly app like WISO or Taxfix, using your annual payslip and any deductible receipts.

Deadline is usually 31 July of the following year; refunds take ~6–8 weeks after filing.

Good to know — wherever you live

  • Employees usually don't have to file — but it's worth it because commuting, work equipment, relocation and home-office costs are deductible.
  • Your Lohnsteuerbescheinigung (annual payslip) has most of the numbers you need; the employer issues it after year-end.
  • Apps like Taxfix/WISO walk you through it in English and estimate your refund before you submit.
  • Married couples can file jointly (Zusammenveranlagung), which often lowers the total tax.

Now pick your city

The office, booking portal and local quirks differ from city to city — your city's guide has the exact steps, documents and booking link.

BerlinMunichHamburgFrankfurtCologneDüsseldorfStuttgartLeipzigDortmundEssenBremenDresdenHannoverNurembergBonnMannheimKarlsruheMünsterAachenMainzAugsburgWiesbadenBielefeldBochumWuppertalFreiburgHeidelbergDarmstadtRegensburgWürzburgKielLübeckPotsdamSaarbrückenRostockErfurtJenaHalle (Saale)MagdeburgChemnitzBraunschweigOsnabrückKasselKoblenz

TiG Desk — free iPhone app

The letters that come with File an income-tax return, read for you

Photograph an official letter and TiG Desk tells you who sent it, what you have to do and by when — then keeps the document on your phone and reminds you before the deadline. Free, and it works without an account.

Download on the App Store →SIM, bank, electricity →

Doing this one online instead? TiG Pilot explains each field of the authority's own form while you fill it.