How is the “My tax return” page structured?
On the “My tax return” page, you will find the steps from entering your data through to checking your tax assessment notice.
1. Enter data
Enter your details using the tax interview. If you take part in electronic data retrieval, you can import the data made available by the tax office.
2. Tips for saving tax
Here you will receive information on potential tax benefits and planning options that match the details you have provided.
3. Check data
Have your entries checked for completeness and plausibility before submitting them. The program will alert you to missing information and possible inconsistencies.
4. Submit tax return
Here you can submit your tax return electronically to the tax office. To do so, the return must have been paid for and the selected submission method must have been enabled.
Once the return has been transmitted successfully, the confirmation of receipt as a PDF file will be available for you to download here. The first page contains the dispatch and receipt confirmation generated by Lohnsteuer kompakt, including the dispatch date and transfer ticket. It documents receipt on the tax administration’s ELSTER servers. The following pages contain the transmitted data from your tax return.
Download the complete confirmation of receipt and keep it as proof of transmission.
Send supporting documents to the tax office
If the tax office requests supporting documents, you can submit them digitally. As a rule, only submit supporting documents when requested to do so.
You can find out more under “Submit additional supporting documents”.
Submit the tax return again
A further transmission is normally only required if changes have been made or after express consultation with the tax office. In this case, you submit a new version, which will generally be used for further processing.
Wichtig
Reminder despite successful submission?
Present the confirmation of receipt to your tax office and expressly ask them to check the receipt and whereabouts of the return using the transfer ticket. Do not resubmit the return solely because of a reminder. Please observe any deadlines set.
If a tax assessment notice has already been issued, please note the information under “How can I amend data I have already sent?”.
5. Check tax assessment notice
Compare your tax assessment notice with the tax calculation from Lohnsteuer kompakt. You will be informed by email when electronic assessment data is available for retrieval. If there are discrepancies, the program will support you with explanations and templates for a possible appeal.
Information about your tax office
Here you will find the address and contact details of your responsible tax office. The address can be automatically inserted into template letters.
You will also see indicative values for processing times. You can rate your tax office and share your own experiences.
Template letters
Use prepared letters and applications. Add your personal details to the templates.
Online tax calculators
With the free online tax calculators from Lohnsteuer kompakt, you can calculate a range of tax-related matters.
How is the “My tax return” page structured?
What is the purpose of data retrieval?
Data retrieval is a service offered by Lohnsteuer kompakt. Through data retrieval, you can access personal data stored about you at your tax office and import it directly into your tax return. The tax authorities also refer to the data provided as the "pre-filled tax return" (VaSt). (More information at: What is electronic data retrieval?)
Once you have set up the service, you will immediately know what data the tax office has about you. Note: Data can only be retrieved for the last 4 tax years, i.e. in the year 0 you can retrieve data for 0, 0, 0 and 0.
You can then transfer the provided data with just a few clicks into your income tax return with Lohnsteuer kompakt. This means you do not have to enter the data yourself. Your data is transferred directly into the corresponding fields of the income tax return, thus largely avoiding input errors. You only need to check the transferred data for accuracy.
This gives you more time for additions that can really save taxes, such as expenses for craftsmen's services, work-related expenses or special expenses.
What is the purpose of data retrieval?
How do I submit my tax return?
For the current tax year, the following submission methods are available to you:
1. Online submission with Elster certificate
You submit your tax return completely online with your personal Elster certificate.
- No printing, no signature, no postal delivery required
- Requirement: Valid Elster certificate
- Tip: Particularly suitable for users who regularly submit their tax return electronically
2. Online submission with identification
Even without your own certificate, a fully electronic submission is possible – after a one-time digital identification.
- No postal delivery required
- Required: One-time identification (e.g. via ID card or account verification)
- Note: Ideal for users without their own Elster certificate
How do I submit my tax return?
What is the deadline for submitting the tax return?
If you prepare your tax return for the year 0 yourself – for example, with Lohnsteuer kompakt – the following legal deadline applies:
Submission deadline: 31 July 0
Your tax return must be received by the tax office by this date.
The deadline is legally regulated in Section 149, Paragraph 2 of the Fiscal Code (AO). If you miss the deadline, a late fee may be imposed according to Section 152 AO.
If you miss the deadline, a late fee may be incurred.
Apply for an extension – but in good time!
- An extension is possible if you are obliged to submit.
- The application must be submitted before 31 July 0.
- As a rule, an extension is granted until 30 September 0.
Basis: Section 109 AO (Extension of deadline by the tax office in individual cases)
Voluntary submission: More time for your return
If you are not obliged to submit, you can submit your tax return voluntarily – and even up to four years retroactively.
For the tax year 0, this means: Voluntary submission possible until 31 December 0
Legal basis: Section 169, Paragraph 2, Sentence 1, No. 2 AO.
Tip: Contact the tax office if in doubt
Are you unsure whether you are obliged to submit? Then ask your relevant tax office. They will provide you with reliable information.
What is the deadline for submitting the tax return?
Who is required to submit a tax return?
Whether you are required to submit an income tax return for the year 2025 depends on your personal situation. In many cases, there is no obligation – however, there are exceptions. The legal basis is § 46 Income Tax Act (EStG).
When is there an obligation to submit?
A tax return is mandatory if:
- You received wage replacement benefits (e.g. parental allowance, sickness benefit, unemployment benefit) of over 410 Euro per year (progression clause),
- You had multiple simultaneous employments where one was taxed under tax class VI,
- You and your spouse or civil partner chose the tax class combination III/V or IV with factor,
- You had additional income of over 410 Euro (e.g. from self-employment, rental, capital gains without withholding tax or pensions),
- You were requested to submit by the tax office.
Detailed information on the mandatory assessment for employees can be found here: Obligation to submit a tax return.
When is there no obligation to submit?
Submission is generally not required if:
- You were employed by one employer only in 2025,
- You were classified in tax class I,
- You had no wage replacement benefits or additional income,
- none of the special cases mentioned apply.
Tip: Voluntary submission can be worthwhile
Even without an obligation, a so-called application assessment can be worthwhile. Many employees receive an average refund of over 1.000 Euro – for example, due to work-related expenses, special expenses or exceptional burdens that were not taken into account in the wage tax deduction.
When in doubt: Ask the tax office
If you are unsure whether you need to submit, your local tax office can help.
Who is required to submit a tax return?
How does the search of Lohnsteuer kompakt work?
If you need help with a specific topic, simply use the search function of Lohnsteuer kompakt. Enter your search term in the search box and click on “Search”.
Search results and functions:
- You will receive an overview of all texts containing the search term.
- The search considers:
- Your entered data,
- visible and not yet visible input fields,
- help texts and advisory texts.
- Simply select the appropriate text from the list of results.
Tips for better search results:
- Combine multiple search terms to get more accurate results. Only texts containing all terms will be displayed.
- If no results are displayed:
- Check the spelling of your search terms.
- Use fewer or more general keywords.
- Capitalisation does not matter. Whether you enter “Sonderausgaben” or “sonderausgaben” – the results remain the same.
How does the search of Lohnsteuer kompakt work?
