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Tax return with ELSTER: electronic filing to the tax office

Many tax returns today must be transmitted electronically. The official, free portal of the tax administration is ELSTER. Using it requires a one-time registration. Electronic filing saves trips and often speeds up processing.

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Your chances of getting your money back

For certain returns, for example with profit income, electronic transmission is legally required (§ 25 EStG in conjunction with the tax data transmission regulation). For pure employees it is voluntary but often convenient.
Via ELSTER you can create and send returns free of charge, retrieve assessments electronically and use pre-filled data. This reduces errors and can speed up processing.

What you should do now

  1. 1

    1. Register

    Create a user account with ELSTER; activation happens by post and email.

  2. 2

    2. Enter data

    Fill in the return and use the document retrieval for pre-filled data if applicable.

  3. 3

    3. Check and send

    Verify the details and transmit the return electronically.

  4. 4

    4. Retrieve the assessment

    Retrieve the tax assessment electronically and check it.

How to spot the scam

  • A required electronic filing is attempted on paper.
  • Registration is started too late (activation takes time).
  • Transmitted data is not checked before sending.

Frequently asked questions

Must I file my tax return electronically?

For certain cases, for example with profit income from trade, self-employment or agriculture and forestry, electronic transmission is required. Pure employees may still file on paper but often benefit from the more convenient electronic variant.

Is ELSTER free?

Yes. ELSTER is the official, free portal of the tax administration. With it you can create and transmit tax returns, retrieve assessments and use pre-filled data. Commercial tax programs are a paid alternative with additional convenience.

How does registration work?

You create a user account online; for activation you receive data by email and a letter by post. Plan a few days lead time for this. After activation you can log in and send your returns electronically.

Take action now

We put together the ready-made texts and the right places to contact for you.

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General information for self-help, not legal advice (RDG). In case of a high loss or uncertainty: contact a consumer advice center or a lawyer.