German tax ID (Steuer-ID): how to get one and why it matters
What the German Steuer-ID is, how long it takes to arrive, what to do if it does not, and how it differs from the other tax numbers.
The Steueridentifikationsnummer, universally shortened to Steuer-ID, is an eleven-digit number issued to everyone registered as living in Germany. You are assigned it once and it stays with you for life, unchanged by moving house, changing job, or leaving and returning to the country.
Tell payroll promptly if your tax ID is pending. The applicable withholding procedure depends on your circumstances; tax class VI is not a fixed percentage. Ask payroll or the Finanzamt about provisional processing and correction.
How you get one
You do not apply for it
It is issued automatically after your Anmeldung. There is no separate application.
It arrives by post in two to four weeks
A plain letter from the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern.
Put your name on the letterbox
German post is delivered by name, not by flat number.
If it does not arrive
Request it again in writing
The Bundeszentralamt für Steuern has an online form to have it reissued.
Your local Finanzamt can help
Visit in person with your passport and Anmeldung confirmation.
Tell your employer it is pending
Most payroll systems can hold off briefly rather than defaulting you to tax class VI.
The three numbers people confuse
Germany issues several tax numbers and they are not interchangeable.
| Number | Who has it | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Steuer-ID | Every registered resident | Payroll, tax returns, banking. Permanent and personal |
| Steuernummer | Anyone filing with a local tax office | Assigned by your Finanzamt. Changes if you move |
| USt-IdNr | Businesses and freelancers | VAT on invoices within the EU |
What you will need it for
Starting a job
Your employer needs it to apply the correct tax class.
Opening certain bank accounts
DKB and ING among others will not process an application without it.
Filing a tax return
Your tax return depends on your circumstances; a refund is not guaranteed. Include your tax ID where required and ask the Finanzamt how to proceed if it has not arrived.
Claiming child benefit or student support
Kindergeld and BAföG applications both require it.