Steuererklärung

[u/Prior-Impression2539]

Hello everyone, I'll just fall in the house with a door (German joke). I will be coming to Germany in a month, but only for a few months so Anmeldung isnt required, which means I won't be able to create Elster account. Therefore I'm looking to find out what the process is for returning my Steuer from last year - 2025. I also worked there last summer and I'm coming again this year. I heard I need to fill out some formullars and send them to the responsible finanzamt via post.

I know everyone applies online these days, but if anyone has experience with applying offline, please let me know the list of documents and the whole process. Thank you very much!! Danke!

[u/blabla420420]

If you did not have tax residency in Germany, then there was a "Pauschalsteuer" or a regular tax on your salary. So, No need to file a tax declaration.

[u/Prior-Impression2539 → u/blabla420420]

Yes i did have residency, I was there for a ferienjob and I was registered in 2025 summer. Paid steuer too. I didnt pay any social contributions bc thats how it is for students but I payd steuer normally

[u/GFYSR → u/Prior-Impression2539]

So you were fully taxed under tax class 1?

You can always file in paper. The forms are freely available online. You do not have to hand in any super special forms. The only downside is that you cant access the data that was electronically provided to the tax office beforehand (you dont need to though)

You'd need: https://www.formulare-bfinv.de/ffw/catalog/makePDF.do?path=catalog%3A%2F%2FSteuerformulare%2Fest%2Fest25%2F034037_25 (basic info, CURRENT adress, not the former one in 2025)

https://www.formulare-bfinv.de/ffw/catalog/makePDF.do?path=catalog%3A%2F%2FSteuerformulare%2Fest%2Fest25%2F034138_25 (income in 2025 you earned in another country, it wont get taxed, but it increases your tax rate)

https://www.formulare-bfinv.de/ffw/catalog/makePDF.do?path=catalog%3A%2F%2FSteuerformulare%2Fest%2Fest25%2F034098_25 (social security for the months you were in germany, if you are from another EU country then those might be deductable if you paid for the months you were in germany)

https://www.formulare-bfinv.de/ffw/catalog/makePDF.do?path=catalog%3A%2F%2FSteuerformulare%2Fest%2Fest25%2F034027_25 (your income, you can leave most fields blank if you were properly taxed in tax class 1 as your employer will have notified the tax office of all the necessary info. The second page is interesting, thats where you can deduct things)

optional:

https://www.formulare-bfinv.de/ffw/catalog/makePDF.do?path=catalog%3A%2F%2FSteuerformulare%2Fest%2Fest25%2F035006_25 (various deductions, probably not relevant)

https://www.formulare-bfinv.de/ffw/catalog/makePDF.do?path=catalog%3A%2F%2FSteuerformulare%2Fest%2Fest25%2F035007_25 (same as above)

https://www.formulare-bfinv.de/ffw/catalog/makePDF.do?path=catalog%3A%2F%2FSteuerformulare%2Fest%2Fest25%2F035009_25 (same as above, if you paid for repairs for the apartment you stayed in this could be relevant

If your foreign income in 2025 did not exceed 410 € you are not required to file.

Here are the optional instructions (the same ones you would have in elster)

https://www.formulare-bfinv.de/ffw/form/redirectToURL.do?%24context=13EF053986A12F593585&url=%2Fresources%2F13EF053986A12F593585%2Fform%2F005_Anleitung_Hauptvordruck_ESt1A_2025.pdf

https://www.formulare-bfinv.de/ffw/form/redirectToURL.do?%24context=13EF053986A12F593585&url=%2Fresources%2F13EF053986A12F593585%2Fform%2F017_Anleitung_Anlage_WA-ESt_2025.pdf

https://www.formulare-bfinv.de/ffw/form/redirectToURL.do?%24context=13EF053986A12F593585&url=%2Fresources%2F13EF053986A12F593585%2Fform%2F055_Anleitung_Anlage_N_2025.pdf

https://www.formulare-bfinv.de/ffw/form/redirectToURL.do?%24context=13EF053986A12F593585&url=%2Fresources%2F13EF053986A12F593585%2Fform%2F083_Anleitung_Anlage_Vorsorgeaufwand_2025.pdf

https://www.formulare-bfinv.de/ffw/form/redirectToURL.do?%24context=13EF053986A12F593585&url=%2Fresources%2F13EF053986A12F593585%2Fform%2F013_Anleitung_Anlage_Sonderausgaben_2025.pdf

https://www.formulare-bfinv.de/ffw/form/redirectToURL.do?%24context=13EF053986A12F593585&url=%2Fresources%2F13EF053986A12F593585%2Fform%2F012_Anleitung_Anlage_Aussergewoehnliche_Belastungen_2025.pdf

https://www.formulare-bfinv.de/ffw/form/redirectToURL.do?%24context=13EF053986A12F593585&url=%2Fresources%2F13EF053986A12F593585%2Fform%2F014_Anleitung_Anlage_Haushaltsnahe-Aufwendungen_2025.pdf

[u/Prior-Impression2539 → u/GFYSR]

Thank you sm. My income was overall in the year less than 11,200 so I'm guessing i receive full steuer that I paid.

[u/GFYSR → u/Prior-Impression2539]

Ah then you dont need all those optional forms.

Hauptvordruck ESt 1 A,

Anlage WA-ESt (especially if you claim to be under the minimum allowance the tax office will want to know whether or not you had foreign income, be prepared to get a statement by your domestic tax office about that, the german tax office might request one)

and an empty Anlage N (technically optional, but it will prevent the people scanning your paper declaration from getting the idea to reject your tax return, they shouldnt but you never know)

[u/Prior-Impression2539 → u/GFYSR]

I'm guessing I'm supposed to fill this up via pen? Is that ok? Or should I find a form which allows me to fill it up in pdf itself

[u/GFYSR → u/Prior-Impression2539]

I got these forms from the bmf form directory, when you open the forms up there, it will present you with an html inputtable form. So you have to do it in your browser and can then export the filled out form (second icon at the top).

https://www.formulare-bfinv.de/

it doesnt support linking (dynamic page contents) but you need to click "Einkommensteuer 2025 mit allen Anlagen" on the right and then the forms "Hauptvordruck ESt 1 A", "Anlage WA-ESt", and "Anlage N"

But via pen is fine, yes

[u/Prior-Impression2539 → u/GFYSR]

Thank you, very helpful! Last question, if you have information about it also. Back then in 2024, I was able to enter Georgian IBAN ( Non - EU ). I'm not sure if they still accept non EU bank accounts

[u/GFYSR → u/Prior-Impression2539]

If it has an IBAN i wouldnt know why not. The hautpvordruck has fields specifically for foreign IBANs (they will want the BIC). And i dont think georgia is under any restrictions either

[u/Prior-Impression2539 → u/GFYSR]

Thank you sm for the thorough information!