Taxes
If you are a resident of Germany for more than six months, or if you have been a freelancer for more than a year and are registered with the local Finanzamt (finance office) you need to submit an annual tax declaration. You can do this online or via a professional tax advisor.
There are several ways to do this but the most convenient way is to download a tax software called ELSTER (Elektronische Steuererklarung, meaning electronic tax declaration). This will allow you to complete your tax return in digital form and save both you and the Finanzamt time.
You can also download forms to prepare your income tax return on your own from the official website of the Federal Central Tax Office. This will also make it much easier to fill out the required information.
Generally, your tax declaration should be submitted to your district’s Finanzamt before 31 July of the following year. If you have received income from abroad during the year, this must be included in your income tax return.
Then, once you have submitted your tax declaration, the Finanzamt will review it and send you a Steuerbescheid that reflects the final assessment they made about you. This will indicate how much tax you should pay.
The Finanzamt will take into account all of your income, as well as any additional expenses that you have to claim from your employer or from your tax authority back home. If you have received public aid/grants and support money like Corona grants, Uberbruckungshilfe or Neustarthilfe, you should also include it in your tax declaration. It can be a big help for you and your family.
Taxes
If you are a resident of Germany for more than six months, or if you have been a freelancer for more than a year and are registered with the local Finanzamt (finance office) you need to submit an annual tax declaration. You can do this online or via a professional tax advisor.
There are several ways to do this but the most convenient way is to download a tax software called ELSTER (Elektronische Steuererklarung, meaning electronic tax declaration). This will allow you to complete your tax return in digital form and save both you and the Finanzamt time.
You can also download forms to prepare your income tax return on your own from the official website of the Federal Central Tax Office. This will also make it much easier to fill out the required information.
Generally, your tax declaration should be submitted to your district’s Finanzamt before 31 July of the following year. If you have received income from abroad during the year, this must be included in your income tax return.
Then, once you have submitted your tax declaration, the Finanzamt will review it and send you a Steuerbescheid that reflects the final assessment they made about you. This will indicate how much tax you should pay.
The Finanzamt will take into account all of your income, as well as any additional expenses that you have to claim from your employer or from your tax authority back home. If you have received public aid/grants and support money like Corona grants, Uberbruckungshilfe or Neustarthilfe, you should also include it in your tax declaration. It can be a big help for you and your family.