Services for individuals who were employed in Germany

An individual who has worked in Germany, received income, and paid taxes is advised to submit an annual income declaration. This declaration reflects the income received, income, social, church taxes paid, and relevant deductions applied according to personal circumstances. Once the tax authorities process the declaration, they make a decision regarding the amount of overpaid or due taxes.

Documents required for the declaration:

Identifikationsnummer (ID nr. or Steuer-ID);

The Identifikationsnummer is a tax identification number consisting of 11 digits, issued to each employee who begins working in Germany. The number can be found in a letter from the German Tax Office, on the Lohnsteuerbescheinigung form, a payslip, or another work-related document.

Example:

Lohnsteuerbescheinigung form or last payslips from all employers;

Lohnsteuerbescheinigung form - an annual document provided by the employer that contains information about total income and taxes paid.

A payslip is a document provided along with the salary, containing details about the income received and taxes paid. To begin the tax refund process, you will need to provide the last payslip for each tax year from all employers.

Example:

Bescheinigung EU/EWR (EU/EEA Certificate) from your local tax office;

In order to begin the tax refund process and receive additional benefits, you will need to submit Bescheinigung EU/EWR (EU/EEA Certificate) from your local tax office. This form can be issued only for EU citizens and shows income received in your home country.

Download the form here

a copy of your passport or ID card;

To initiate the tax refund process, we require a valid passport or ID card to verify your identity and citizenship.

additional documents that could impact the refund amount.

If you have any of the following documents, submiting them could impact your refund amount:
• The rental agreement (Mietvertrag), if the rent was not compensated by the employer(s);
• rental invoices, if the rent was not compensated by the employer(s);
• proof of travel expences to and from work using personal funds;
• insurance policies or payment receipts related to employment (including life insurance);
• documents proving expenses for professional development (seminars, training, language courses, etc.) that were not compensated by the employer;
• documents proving the purchase of equipment and tools necessary for work, if the expenses were not compensated by the employer.

Processing time: it takes 3 to 6 months, but the final decision period depends on the German tax authorities.

Service fee: 16% of the refunded tax amount, but not less than 79 EUR.

A zero declaration is an income declaration that provides information indicating that you did not pay nor overpay income tax in Germany during particular year.

Individuals who have received a notice from the German tax authorities requiring them to declare income must submit their declaration until the date specified. Individuals who have the 3rd, 5th, or 6th tax class should submit their declaration without waiting for such notice. Additionally, individuals who want to apply for child benefits should declare income received in Germany.

Important! Failure to submit the declaration or submitting it late will result in a penalty from 100 EUR to 25,000 EUR, depending on the situation.

Please note! If you received income and did not pay taxes or paid too little, you will be required to cover the amount due.

Documents required for the declaration:

Identifikationsnummer (ID nr. or Steuer-ID);

The Identifikationsnummer is a tax identification number consisting of 11 digits, issued to each employee who begins working in Germany. The number can be found in a letter from the German Tax Office, on the Lohnsteuerbescheinigung form, a payslip, or another work-related document.

Example:

Lohnsteuerbescheinigung form or last payslips from all employers;

Lohnsteuerbescheinigung form - an annual document provided by the employer that contains information about total income and taxes paid.

A payslip is a document provided along with the salary, containing details about the income received and taxes paid. To begin the tax refund process, you will need to provide the last payslip for each tax year from all employers.

Example:

Bescheinigung EU/EWR (EU/EEA Certificate) from your local tax office;

In order to begin the tax refund process and receive additional benefits, you will need to submit Bescheinigung EU/EWR (EU/EEA Certificate) from your local tax office. This form can be issued only for EU citizens and shows income received in your home country.

Download the form here

a copy of your passport or ID card;

To initiate the tax refund process, we require a valid passport or ID card to verify your identity and citizenship.

additional documents that could impact the refund amount.

If you have any of the following documents, submiting them could impact your refund amount:
• The rental agreement (Mietvertrag), if the rent was not compensated by the employer(s);
• rental invoices, if the rent was not compensated by the employer(s);
• proof of travel expences to and from work using personal funds;
• insurance policies or payment receipts related to employment (including life insurance);
• documents proving expenses for professional development (seminars, training, language courses, etc.) that were not compensated by the employer;
• documents proving the purchase of equipment and tools necessary for work, if the expenses were not compensated by the employer.

Processing time: it takes 3-6 months, but the final decision depends on German tax authorities.

Service fee: 79 EUR (including VAT).

Kindergeld is a benefit provided to parents who are currently working or have previously worked in Germany. It applies to those with children living in an EU country, as long as they are under 25 and are attending school or university.

Who is eligible to apply for child benefits?

Benefit amounts: 250 EUR per month (in 2024). If you receive child benefits in your home country, this amount will be deducted and the German Family Fund (Familienkasse) will only pay the difference. If you have applied for child benefits in your home country and application was rejected, you must provide evidence, including the application date and the reason for rejection.

Important! After submitting an application for child benefits, you must inform us of any changes in your marital status, your residence in Germany or abroad. You are also required to report any changes related to employment in Germany. Failure to report such changes may result in overpayments, which will need to be refunded to the Family Fund (Familienkasse).

Documents required:

copies of the passports or ID cards of both parents or the person with whom the child lives;

a copy of the marriage certificate (translated into English or German and certified by a translation agency);

If you request the international version of the document (Form B), translation or certification by a translation agency will not be required.

a copy of the child's birth certificate;

If you request the international version of the document (Form A), translation or certification by a translation agency will not be required.

a certificate from the employer (Bescheinigung des Arbeitgebers);

This is a certificate issued by the employer to the employee. It contains the information required by the Family Fund (Familienkasse).

Example:

last 6 payslips;

employment contract (Arbeitsvertrag);

certificate of family composition for the purpose of family benefits) if you are divorced or unmarried;

if your child is already an adult or is about to reach adulthood, you must provide a certificate from the school or university;

The certificate must state the start date of the child's studies and the expected graduation date. This document must be translated into German or English and certified by a translation agency. Universities often issue such certificates in English.

annual income statement (Lohnsteuerbescheinigung), if available;

proof of residence in Germany, if available.

Note! To receive child benefits (Kindergeld), you are required to submit an annual tax declaration. However, submitting the declaration may not be necessary if you have a residence in Germany and can provide proof of it (such as a rental agreement, utility bills, etc.).

Important! Child benefits are paid for the last 6 months prior to the date your application is registered with the German Family Fund (Familienkasse).

Processing time: it takes 3 to 6 months to grant the benefit, but the final decision depends on German Family Fund (Familienkasse).

Service fee: 150 EUR (including VAT) for one child and 96 EUR (including VAT) for each additional child.

The fee for data update services is 50 EUR (including VAT).

Periodically Family Fund (Familienkasse) verifies whether individuals still meet the conditions for receiving child benefits. Recipients are required to update data by filling the questionnaire "Fragebogen zur Prüfung des Anspruchs auf Kindergeld". The questionnaire should be submitted within seven weeks.

Documents required:

a certificate from the employer (Bescheinigung des Arbeitgebers);

This is a certificate issued by the employer to the employee. It contains the information required by the Family Fund (Familienkasse).

Example:

last payslips;

if your child is already an adult or is about to reach adulthood, you must provide a certificate from the school or university.

The certificate must state the start date of the child's studies and the expected graduation date. This document must be translated into German or English and certified by a translation agency. Universities often issue such certificates in English.

Processing time: 2-3 months.

Service fee: 50 EUR (including VAT).

Individuals who received a notice to declare income, but did not work in Germany in the particular year, can apply for elimination of this obligation and any potential fines. You should meet the deadline specified in the notice.

Fines for late submission of the declaration can start at 100-500 EUR and may increase.

All required documents are submitted to the tax office to help prevent fines and ensure the obligation is eliminated.

Documents required for the declaration:

Identifikationsnummer (ID nr. or Steuer-ID);

The Identifikationsnummer is a tax identification number consisting of 11 digits, issued to each employee who begins working in Germany. The number can be found in a letter from the German Tax Office, on the Lohnsteuerbescheinigung form, a payslip, or another work-related document.

Example:

Lohnsteuerbescheinigung form or last payslips from all employers;

Lohnsteuerbescheinigung form - an annual document provided by the employer that contains information about total income and taxes paid.

A payslip is a document provided along with the salary, containing details about the income received and taxes paid. To begin the tax refund process, you will need to provide the last payslip for each tax year from all employers.

Example:

Bescheinigung EU/EWR (EU/EEA Certificate) from your local tax office;

In order to begin the tax refund process and receive additional benefits, you will need to submit Bescheinigung EU/EWR (EU/EEA Certificate) from your local tax office. This form can be issued only for EU citizens and shows income received in your home country.

Download the form here

a copy of your passport or ID card;

To initiate the tax refund process, we require a valid passport or ID card to verify your identity and citizenship.

additional documents that could impact the refund amount.

If you have any of the following documents, submiting them could impact your refund amount:
• The rental agreement (Mietvertrag), if the rent was not compensated by the employer(s);
• rental invoices, if the rent was not compensated by the employer(s);
• proof of travel expences to and from work using personal funds;
• insurance policies or payment receipts related to employment (including life insurance);
• documents proving expenses for professional development (seminars, training, language courses, etc.) that were not compensated by the employer;
• documents proving the purchase of equipment and tools necessary for work, if the expenses were not compensated by the employer.

Processing time: 1-3 months.

Service fee: 50 EUR (including VAT).