The deadline for taxpayers who are obliged to submit their tax return is July 31 this year - computer softwares or mobile-phone Apps can help with submitting the data. The consumer portal Finanztiphas tested twelve of these applications for the tax-year 2024. Conclusion: “Powerful applications” are available for between 20 and just under 70 euros, as Finanztip announced on Friday.
“For the vast majority of taxpayers, a tax app, tax software or an online tax return is completely sufficient,” Finanztip tax expert Jörg Leine told the AFP news agency. “They are significantly cheaper than a tax advisor (Steuerberater) or income tax assistance association (Lohnsteuerhilfeverein)”. For more complex tax cases - such as self-employment, business or renting - Finanztip recommends using a tax software.
The portal tested the applications with two sample cases. “Wiso Steuer” for 49.95 euros scored best, both as an app and as a computer software, according to Finanztip. For simple cases, Finanztip recommends the free app "Check 24 Steuer".
"My Elster” from the German tax administration is less recommendable - “Elster requires more prior knowledge and does not provide any tax-saving tips,” said Leine. However, Elster is suitable for tax professionals. According to Finanztip, the apps "Steuerbot" and "Taxfix" as well as the three online softwares "Smartsteuer", "SteuerGo" and "Lohnsteuer kompakt" are also recommended, all at a price of 35 to 70 euros.
Almost all programs can be tested free of charge, advised Finanztip expert Leine. "You only pay when the declaration is actually sent to the tax office and know beforehand whether it's worth it."
The costs for the tax software are also fully tax-deductible up to an amount of 100 euros - for employees, for example, via the income-related expenses in Annex N (Werbungskosten in Anlage N). The portal recommends the online program "einfachElster" from the tax office for pensioners without additional income - it is much clearer than "My Elster".
The tax that is deducted from the salary each month is based on an estimate. It assumes that a standard employee works for the same salary throughout the year and has hardly any tax-relevant expenses. The purpose of the income tax return is to take better account of the taxpayer's working and living situation. Most taxpayers get money back because they can deduct expenses - on average a good 1000 euros.
According to the portal, the July 31 deadline for submitting tax returns applies to more than 20 million taxpayers. Those who hire a tax advisor or income tax assistance association can wait until April 30, 2026 to submit their return. Anyone who voluntarily submits a return can do so retrospectively for up to four years - so the deadline for the 2024 tax year is December 31, 2028.
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