Tax Filing

Filing a German tax return can get you a significant refund — the average is over €1,000. Compare English-friendly tools with the official portal.

Easy tax filing apps

English-friendly online tax tools. Guided walkthrough, automatic calculations, and digital submission.

Recommended

Taxfix

Germany's #1 English tax app

Check current pricing

  • 100% English
  • Simple Q&A format — no tax knowledge needed
  • Average €1,072 refund
More about Taxfix
  • Only pay when you submit
  • Refund estimate before paying
  • Handles expat-specific cases
  • €39.99 fee per submission
  • Complex cases may need manual help
  • Not for freelancers/self-employed
File taxes

Wundertax

Affordable guided tax filing

Check current pricing

  • Cheaper than Taxfix
  • English interface
  • Step-by-step guidance
More about Wundertax
  • Digital ELSTER submission
  • Good for simple returns
  • Less polished UX
  • Limited expat-specific features
  • Not for freelancers
File taxes

SteuerGo

Browser-based tax return tool

Check current pricing

  • No app download needed
  • English available
  • Handles most employee cases
More about SteuerGo
  • Pre-fill from previous year
  • Interface can feel dated
  • Less beginner-friendly
  • German defaults in some areas
Start filing

WISO Steuer

German tax-return software available on web, app and desktop

See current plans

  • Web, app and desktop options
  • Digital tax-return preparation
  • Check language availability and suitability for your return
View WISO Steuer

Official German tax portal

ELSTER is the free government portal for filing tax returns. Powerful but not beginner-friendly.

ELSTER (Mein ELSTER)

The official German tax portal

Free

  • Completely free
  • Official government portal
  • Full feature set
More about ELSTER (Mein ELSTER)
  • Accepted by all Finanzamt offices
  • German-language only
  • Complex interface
  • Requires ELSTER certificate (setup takes days)
  • No guidance for beginners
  • Not designed for expats
Use ELSTER

Important considerations

Official routes are typically German-language only and assume existing tax knowledge:

  • ELSTER requires creating a certificate that takes 1–2 weeks to arrive by post
  • German tax forms (Einkommensteuererklärung) are notoriously complex
  • Freelancers and self-employed need a Steuerberater (tax advisor) — apps won't cover this
  • You have until 31 July of the following year to file (or 28/29 February with a tax advisor)
  • Filing is not always mandatory for employees — but you should, because most people get a refund