Exciting News: Taxes Portal ELSTER Now Available in English!
Exciting News: Taxes Portal ELSTER Now Available in English!
Great news for the international community in Berlin! Germany's official tax submission portal, ELSTER (Electronic Tax Declaration), is now available in English. This update is especially timely as we approach the tax declaration season of 2024.
What is ELSTER?
ELSTER is the online platform designed by the Federal Central Tax Office for tax declarations. Traditionally available only in German, the portal has posed challenges for those not fluent in the language. Now, with the English version available, navigating tax submissions should be somewhat easier, although some detailed pages and explainer videos remain in German only.
Who Needs to File Taxes?
In Germany, it’s mandatory for freelancers and self-employed individuals to file their taxes through ELSTER. Salaried employees can also file optionally, which many do in hopes of a refund.
How to Use ELSTER?
Before you can submit your tax returns, you'll need to register for a free account on ELSTER. For expats and immigrants the eID function of your residence permit can be activated and used for this registration.
Key Dates:
The tax year in Germany runs from January to December.
Returns for the tax year 2023 must be filed by September 2, 2024.
Starting in 2025, the filing deadline for the 2024 tax year will be July 31.
Additional Support:
Given that some sections are still only in German, it might be useful to have a German-speaking friend or advisor to help with more complex queries or when navigating detailed resources not yet translated.
For ease, there are also several tax apps available in English, like TaxFix and Wundertax, which might be useful alternatives or supplements to using ELSTER directly.
Things to Remember:
Translations on ELSTER are automated and courtesy of DeepL, meaning some of the phrasing might be awkward or confusing. It’s a good idea to double-check anything that seems unclear and seek clarification if necessary.
With these tools and information, filing taxes in Germany should now be a less daunting prospect for Berlin's international residents! Let's make the most of these new resources and perhaps ease some of the bureaucratic headaches associated with living abroad.
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