ELSTER
Your online tax office
Help

Private individuals

Offers

You have various options for submitting your tax returns, applications and messages to the tax office electronically.

My ELSTER

The online tax office allows you to complete and submit forms, for example your income tax return, VAT, an objection and much more, simply using your internet browser. Your personal area at Mein ELSTER offers an inbox, saving drafts and numerous other useful services.
You need an ELSTER user account to access it. Create user account

simplyELSTERplus

simplyELSTERplus is suitable for people who live in Germany, have an ELSTER user account, are employees, do not wish to declare details of children and want to complete their income tax return themselves.

With simplyELSTERplus, filing your tax return becomes a new experience: instead of complicated forms, you can expect a modern, user-friendly interface with a clear, guided process that leads you step by step through the tax return. More information

Try it out - free of charge, secure and surprisingly simple. Start now with simplyELSTERplus.

einfachElster

einfachElster is especially for pensioners and retirees: here you can submit your income tax return quickly and easily. A guided dialog guides you step by step through the paperless preparation of your tax return. Further information

The meinElster+ app for mobile devices

With MeinELSTER+, you can take photos of all important receipts (e.g. tradesmen's invoices, donation receipts, etc.) for your next tax return and upload them to your ELSTER user account.
This means you have your receipts to hand when you need them for your income tax return, for example.
One-click tax return - from July 2026, the MeinELSTER+ app will enable the automatic preparation of simple tax returns for 2025.
In addition to the functions for document entry and the one-click tax return registration service, you also have access to the Mein ELSTER inbox and can submit the forms for document submission and the "Other message to the tax office" directly from the app. Further information

The ElsterSecure app for mobile devices

ElsterSecure offers you the option of logging in to ELSTER using your mobile device (smartphone, Tablet). This also applies to services that support the ELSTER user account for Login. A certificate file is then no longer required. This means you can access your private area of Mein ELSTER from anywhere. Further information

Other Software products that support ELSTER

Electronic submission of tax returns, applications and messages is also possible with a variety of commercial software products: List of software products

Information on

Benefits and advantages of electronic tax returns

  • Transfer of data from the previous year
  • Pre-filled tax return (retrieval of certificates)
  • Collection of documents and use for the tax return
  • Plausibility check during transmission leads to significantly fewer queries from the tax office
  • Non-binding tax calculation
  • Display of your notification data and comparison with the transmitted values
  • Receive your income tax assessment digitally

Pre-filled tax return (retrieval of certificates)

The pre-filled tax return is a free service offered by the tax authorities to make it easier for you to prepare your income tax return. Further information

You must be registered with an identification number Glossary for Display identification number in Mein ELSTER: To the registration

Submission of documents for the income tax return

The submission of receipts is only required if requested by the tax office. Further information

Digital documents and notifications

You can receive your income tax assessment notice and various other documents and notices digitally. To do this, you must give your consent to the electronic provision of notices and other correspondence once. Consent to electronic disclosure

Which documents and notifications are provided?

Electronic income tax card (ELStAM)

The information on your electronic income tax card is available in Mein ELSTER. Further information

The prerequisite is registration with an identification number in Mein ELSTER: To the registration

Wage tax certificate

After closing the payroll account, the employer is obliged to send an electronic wage tax statement to the tax authorities. This must be given to the employee as a printout or provided electronically. Frequently asked questions about the wage tax certificate

Digital powers of attorney

You can submit powers of attorney electronically to your tax office. The power of attorney also includes the retrieval of data stored by the tax authorities (certificate retrieval). You can find further information on the various forms of power of attorney in the help section. Manage powers of attorney.

Legal matters

Information on legal obligations and regulations can be found at Legal matters