Select “ Zertifikatsdatei” and click the button that says “ Auswählen”. There are other (paid) options for business owners or tax advisors, which you can always opt for at a later stage if needed. For most people a Zertifkatsdatei (digital signature) is the best option - it is free and simple to use. Choose your login-methodįor this first step, you need to select how you would like to log in in the future. This step-by-step guide walks you through the registration process. The online application form is fairly simple but it is all in German. To do this, visit the ELSTER website and click the button that says “ Benutzerkonto erstellen” (create an account). If you regularly do your tax returns online, ELSTER can also automatically retrieve a lot of your personal information, making the process a lot faster.īefore you can use ELSTER to submit your annual tax return, you need to register for a free account.

If you are a freelancer or own your own business, you are most likely obliged to use ELSTER (along with around 90% of businesses in Germany) to submit monthly VAT returns and employee tax statements.Īn increasing number of private individuals are also using ELSTER to submit their annual tax returns and request tax refunds: doing so online saves having to print out and post your tax forms to your local tax office ( Finanzamt).

What is ELSTER ( Elektronische Steuererklärung)?ĮLSTER ( ELektronische STeuerERklärung = electronic tax declaration) is a German online tax office system designed by the Federal Central Tax Office ( Bundeszentralamt für Steuern) to enable anyone to submit their tax returns online. Many expats living and working in Germany will use ELSTER to do their taxes online, especially those who are freelancers or self-employed.

Elster online portal