Filing taxes in Germany can be intimidating, particularly for foreign residents, and paid tax apps have long been a help. With the tax authorities about to launch a new free version, could this finally make tax season easier?
Filing a German tax return (Steuererklärung) is nobody’s idea of fun. And for many foreign residents, the process is made even harder by unfamiliar rules, technical language and a system that assumes you already know what you’re doing.
Until now, the official option has been ELSTER (short for Elektronische Steuererklärung), a free online portal run by the tax authorities. ELSTER is reliable and widely used, but the forms are generally in German and the platform offers little guidance on what you might be able to deduct.
As a result, many people turn instead to tools such as Taxfix, Wundertax, SteuerGo, Smartsteuer or WISO Steuer, which provide step‑by‑step explanations and, in some cases, English‑language support.
This may be about to change. From March 31st, the German tax authorities are updating MeinElster+, a smartphone app designed to simplify parts of the tax process, so that some people can submit tax returns with just “one click”.
So should finance‑savvy residents make the switch?
What is the MeinElster+ app and how does it work?
MeinElster+ is an official, free smartphone app developed by the German tax authorities to work alongside the existing ELSTER system. The app is designed to allow people to photograph receipts – such as tradespeople’s invoices or donation confirmations – store them digitally, and categorise them by tax year or expense type.
To use MeinElster+, users must first link the app to their existing MeinELSTER account via a QR code. Documents uploaded through the app then appear in the “My Documents” section of ELSTER. Receipts aren’t automatically sent to the tax office but stored so they can be submitted later if necessary.
READ ALSO: A tax expert’s best advice on when and why you need to file in Germany
What’s new?
From March 31st, some users will have access to a new feature which can pre-fill tax return forms based on data already held by the tax office.
Then, from July 1st, eligible users will reportedly be able to submit this tax return directly “with one click”, according to the Bavarian Ministry of Finance which developed the feature.
At launch, this feature of the app will be limited to around 11.5 million people – specifically pensioners and unmarried employees without children. Other groups are expected to be given access later, though no timeline had been announced at the time of writing.
Are there any drawbacks?
The idea of a free, one‑click tax return sounds appealing, but some consumer experts have urged caution.
The biggest risk appears to be that pre‑filled tax returns only include information already known to the tax office – such as income, pension payments and social security contributions. Many deductible expenses will not be included automatically.
Unlike commercial tax software, MeinElster+ is not designed to offer tax‑saving tips or reminders.
“You can’t expect tax‑saving tips from a tool provided directly by the tax authorities,” warns consumer organisation Finanztip.
Access is another limitation. Families, married couples, freelancers and many other groups can’t yet use the one‑click feature and will need to wait for future expansions.
Finally, MeinElster+ is only available on smartphones running Android 13 or later and iOS 17 or later. It also requires an ELSTER certificate or the ElsterSecure app to access.
READ ALSO: The German tax deadlines you need to know in 2026
Better than the alternatives?
MeinElster+ clearly has advantages. It’s free, secure, officially supported and could be genuinely convenient for simple cases – particularly for people with straightforward finances and at least a basic familiarity with German tax rules.
For many others, however, you may want to wait and see how the app develops.
Popular commercial alternatives include:
- Taxfix: uses a question‑and‑answer format in English
- Wundertax: designed specifically with international residents in mind
- SteuerGo: provides a fully guided English interface and lets users see their estimated refund before paying
- Smartsteuer: offers broad coverage and English support
- WISO Steuer: more complex and largely German‑language, but offers a wide range of features for more complicated tax situations
READ ALSO: What is Germany’s church tax and do you have to pay it?
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: thelocal.de
