Advantages of Lohnsteuer kompakt over Mein Elster!

Until 2020, the tax authorities offered a standalone programme called ELSTER-Formular for processing tax returns. The programme allows employees to create their tax return in a form-based manner. However, the application does not provide tips or recommendations for saving on taxes.

ELSTER offers little support for tax novices. Often, a recommendation can bring back more money than the cost of a tax return programme. ELSTER-Formular does not offer an interview guide or input assistance. Individual forms must be added by the user, and official language makes it difficult for those unfamiliar with tax matters.

The successor product from the tax authorities, the web version "Mein Elster", is also heavily criticised:

"User-unfriendly, confusing, the help system is an absolute joke – the online product from the tax authorities called 'Mein Elster' is simply an outrage." (MDR Aktuell, 27 August 2021, 14:12).

The optimal solution for tax novices is therefore programmes offered as both offline and online versions. The advantage of an online tax return is that the user can access their tax return from anywhere at any time. With Lohnsteuer kompakt, neither installation nor updates are required, as the application is always up to date.

Moreover, unlike software programmes, there are no restrictions regarding the operating system: the programme can be used platform-independently and cross-platform on any computer.

The Bavarian State Office for Taxes (BayLfSt) points out that ElsterFormular can be used for the last time in 2020 for tax returns for the year 2019.

The income tax return for the year 2020 (to be submitted in 2021) can no longer be created with the tax authorities' programme (Bavarian LfSt from 06.02.2020, Senator for Finance Bremen from 07.02.2020).