Locating an English-speaking tax consultant in Germany: A guide
Filing Taxes in Germany: English-Language Options for the 2025 Season
For expats, freelancers, and English speakers navigating German bureaucracy, the 2025 tax filing season offers a range of options to ease the process.
1. SteuerGo (Tax Return Germany)
Topping the list is SteuerGo, a user-friendly app and web platform that simplifies tax filing for English speakers. With features like automated refund calculations and secure submission via the ELSTER system, SteuerGo supports various income types, from employees to retirees, and can handle up to eight years of past returns via the web browser. It's considered an affordable and accessible choice for English speakers [1][2].
2. WISO Steuer
Germany's popular tax app, WISO Steuer, offers comprehensive coverage of all income taxes, including automatic data retrieval ("Steuer-Abruf") to simplify filing. However, its services are currently only available in German, limiting accessibility for English speakers [5].
3. Other Software and Professional Help
For general tax filing, ELSTER, Germany's official online tax portal, is available, though it is primarily in German with AI-assisted translations. For freelancers and self-employed professionals, bookkeeping and invoicing software like Lexware Office, FastBill, and business banks (Qonto, Holvi, Kontist) are available, but are generally German-language focused [3].
Hiring an English-speaking tax advisor or joining a Lohnsteuerhilfeverein (income tax assistance association) is also an option for complex situations or those preferring professional support. Lists of English-speaking advisors are available [3].
4. Additional English-Language Guidance
Websites like Settle-in-Berlin provide recommendations for English-friendly resources, including SteuerGo, and practical tax deduction guidance tailored for foreigners in Germany [2]. The blog All About Berlin also has a list of English-speaking tax advisors in and around Berlin.
Navigating the Costs
While hiring a tax professional can be expensive, costs vary depending on employment status, with prices typically starting at a couple of hundred euros for a single tax declaration.
A Challenging Bureaucracy
Navigating German bureaucracy can be challenging, especially for foreign residents with complicated finances or who do not speak German. However, with the increasing availability of English-language resources, the 2025 tax filing season promises to be more accessible for English speakers in Germany.
[1] https://www.steuergo.de/ [2] https://settle-in-berlin.com/tax-return-germany/ [3] https://www.expatica.com/de/finance/taxes/148634-taxes-in-germany-for-expats.html [4] https://www.wiso-steuer.de/ [5] https://www.bochum.de/steuerberater/
- For English speakers who prefer personal-finance tools in their native language, SteuerGo (Tax Return Germany) offers an accessible and affordable option for tax filing, catering to various income types and providing a user-friendly experience.
- While WISO Steuer, a comprehensive tax app in Germany, offers automated data retrieval and covers all income taxes, its services are primarily in German, potentially limiting accessibility for English-speaking individuals.
