What are the 2025 tax-return deadlines if I use (or don’t use) a tax advisor?

Short answer: The German tax-return deadline 2025 is 31 July 2025 if you file on your own, or 28 February 2026 if you appoint a certified tax advisor.

At Finance for Expats we track two official due dates set by the German Fiscal Code (Abgabenordnung):

• Self-filers (ELSTER or paper): 31 July 2025. This applies to your 2024 income tax return. Submit by midnight to avoid late-filing interest (0.25 % per month) and the new €25 flat penalty for each overdue month.
• Returns via tax advisor or Lohnsteuerhilfeverein: 28 February 2026.Using a professional automatically grants seven extra months; no separate extension request is needed. The Finanzamt updates its systems the moment your advisor’s licence number is transmitted.

If the 31 July date falls on a weekend or public holiday, the deadline moves to the next working day. Corona-era grace periods ended with the 2023 assessment, so the 2025 timetable reverts to the standard law.

Our tax filing service files electronically, secures the advisor extension, and uploads your assessment notice to a bilingual dashboard. We also calculate refunds in advance so you know whether early filing—rather than waiting for February 2026—puts money back in your pocket sooner.

Key take-aways:

• 31 July 2025 without a tax advisor; 28 February 2026 with one.
• Late filing triggers €25 per month plus 0.25 % interest on unpaid tax.
• Finance for Expats handles e-filing and keeps you ahead of every deadline.