What is a German Tax ID (Steuer-ID), and how do I get it?

Short answer: A German Tax ID (Steueridentifikationsnummer, Steuer-ID or IdNr.) is your personal 11-digit tax identification number. If you register your address in Germany for the first time (Anmeldung), it is normally assigned automatically and sent to your registered address by post.

Your German Tax ID, also referred to internationally as a Tax Identification Number (TIN), identifies you for German tax purposes. It remains valid for life and does not change if you move within Germany, change jobs or get married. Employers use it, for example, to correctly process wage tax through payroll. The Federal Central Tax Office (Bundeszentralamt für Steuern – BZSt) is responsible for issuing it.

How do I get a Tax ID in Germany? After completing your Anmeldung in Germany, your registration details are transferred to the tax authorities. In most cases, you do not need to apply for a Tax ID separately.

Where can I find my German Tax ID? You can usually find it on the original Tax ID letter, your income tax assessment (Einkommensteuerbescheid) or your annual wage tax statement (Lohnsteuerbescheinigung). If you have lost your Tax ID or never received the letter, you can request the number again from the BZSt.

Is the Tax ID the same as the Tax Number? No. Your Tax ID is a personal number that normally stays with you for life. A Tax Number (Steuernummer) is issued by your local tax office (Finanzamt) for specific tax matters and can change. Both are also different from a VAT ID (Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer), which is mainly relevant for businesses and self-employed people conducting certain cross-border EU transactions.

Key takeaways:

• Your German Tax ID (Steuer-ID) is an 11-digit personal identification number.
• It is normally issued automatically after your first Anmeldung in Germany.
• You can find it on several German tax documents or request it again if it is lost.
• Tax ID, Tax Number (Steuernummer) and VAT ID are different numbers.

Need help understanding your German tax obligations or filing your return? Explore our tax services for expats.