Annual income tax return to the IRS – voluntary or mandatory, often resulting in a tax refund.
Damit wir Tax Return mit dem zuständigen Finanzamt in Ihrer Stadt anzeigen können.
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Sie werden zur geführten Suche weitergeleitet – mit Kontaktdaten, Termin und nächsten Schritten für Tax Return.
Quick answer
Documents you need
Wage Tax Statement
Responsible authority
The authority of your main residence
How to do it
Apply directly online
Costs
1.000 €, ist aber stark einzelfallabhängig
Collect receipts
Gather your income tax withholding statement and receipts for income-related expenses, special expenses, and extraordinary expenses.
Create an ELSTER declaration
Fill it out online via the ELSTER portal or tax software and submit it electronically.
Wait for the tax assessment notice
The tax office reviews the information and issues the tax assessment, usually within a few weeks to a few months.
Review the decision
If there are any discrepancies, file an objection within one month.
The authority of your main place of residence is responsible.Find authority →
Who is eligible?
Employees (often voluntarily, with a refund), self-employed individuals, retirees with additional income, and anyone subject to mandatory tax assessment (e.g., those with multiple employers or who receive wage replacement benefits exceeding €410).
Income limit
Processing time
Nationwide: approx. approx. 2 months
Success rate
approx. 96.0 % (estimate)
File a written objection within 30 days – with reasons why the decision is wrong and any missing evidence.
For voluntary filings, the deadline is retroactive to within 4 years; for mandatory assessments, the deadline is generally July 31 of the following year (later if filed through a tax advisor).
According to the Federal Statistical Office, the average refund is around €1,000, but this varies greatly depending on the individual case.