Fit & case assessment
We help you understand whether your case is straightforward or needs specialist handling, before you invest time in documents.
Simple vs complex, clarified early
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Priya
Clarity on her tax return
Get the right tax support in Germany
We help expats understand German tax obligations, prepare documents and coordinate filing, whether you are an employee, freelancer, landlord or have a cross-border case. Clear fit check, transparent pricing logic and English-speaking guidance.
Service scope
What we do for you
We route your case to the right tax path, fit assessment, document preparation, partner-led filing and Finanzamt coordination. In plain English, with expat-specific situations in mind.
Annual income tax return
Coordination of your German income tax return (Steuererklärung), including refund estimates and draft review before submission.
Employee & standard casesFreelancer & self-employed tax
Support for freelancers and Gewerbe, income categorisation, deductible expenses, VAT questions and annual filing coordination.
Built for non-employee profilesProperty & landlord taxation
Tax implications of owning or renting out property in Germany, rental income, depreciation (AfA) and links to your wider return.
Landlord & investor casesCross-border & foreign income
Cases with foreign income, dual residency questions or prior-year gaps, routed to partners with international tax experience.
Complex cases handled properlyFinanzamt coordination
Support through submission and follow-up, including queries from the tax office and clarification of assessment notices.
Support beyond filing day
The process
How tax support works
Fewer surprises, clearer ownership. We keep the tax journey to four practical phases, from first contact to submitted return and Finanzamt follow-up.
Step 1
Orientation & fit check
Share your situation in a paid consultation, employment type, income sources and filing year.
We help route your case
Step 2
Documents & quote
You submit documents; we review scope and provide a tailored offer with refund estimate where possible.
We help with document lists
Step 3
Draft & review
Our tax partners prepare your declaration; you review the draft before anything is submitted.
We help explain the draft
Step 4
Submit & follow-up
Final submission to the Finanzamt plus support if the tax office requests clarification.
We help until assessment
Who this is for
Tax support for different expat profiles
German tax rules look different depending on how you earn income, whether you own property and if you have cross-border complexity. We help you find the right path before you file.
Employee
PAYE income in Germany.
Annual tax return with salary income, deductions and common expat items, often a straightforward filing path with refund potential.
Request consultation as an employeeFreelancer / self-employed
Gewerbe or freelance income.
More documentation, expense categories and VAT considerations, we route to partners experienced with self-employed expat cases.
Request consultation as a freelancerProperty owner / landlord
Rental or investment property.
Rental income, depreciation and property-related deductions integrated into your wider return, linked to your ownership situation.
Request consultation as a landlordCross-border case
Foreign income or dual ties.
Prior years abroad, foreign pensions, stock options or multi-country residency, needs specialist review and careful documentation.
Request consultation for a complex caseFirst German tax return
New arrival or first filing year.
If you recently moved to Germany or are filing for the first time, we help you understand obligations, deadlines and what to gather.
Request consultation for your first returnNot sure if you need help
Unsure whether to file or DIY?
If you are not sure whether your case is simple enough for software or needs an advisor, start with the Knowledge Hub or a short fit check.
Read guides first Browse tax guides first
Fit check
Simple case or specialist support?
Not every expat needs the same level of tax help. This quick split helps you self-qualify, like Taxfix and Wundertax do for DIY vs advisor routing.
Employee with German salary
- One employer, payslips in Germany
- Standard deductions (commute, insurance, etc.)
- No rental property or foreign income
- Prior years filed or first year in Germany only
These cases often suit partner-led filing with a clear document list and predictable scope.
Complex or multi-source income
- Freelance, Gewerbe or multiple income streams
- Foreign income, pensions or stock compensation
- Rental property or property sales in the tax year
- Missed prior-year filings or Finanzamt letters
We route these to partners with the right expertise and explain scope and pricing before you proceed.
Documents
Documents & key deadlines
What you need depends on employment type, income sources and filing year, these are common starting points plus the deadlines expats ask about first.
Income & employment
- Lohnsteuerbescheinigung (annual payslip summary)
- Monthly payslips, if requested
- Employment contract or employer confirmation
- Foreign income proof, if applicable
Deductions & expenses
- Commuting / home office costs
- Insurance certificates (health, liability, etc.)
- Donations and special expenses (Sonderausgaben)
- Work-related expenses (Werbungskosten)
Property & investments
- Rental income statements
- Property cost breakdown / loan interest
- Capital gains or broker statements
- Prior Steuerbescheid, if available
Deadlines to know
- Standard deadline: 31 July (following year)
- With tax advisor: often extended to spring
- Voluntary return: up to 4 years back
- Freelancer prepayments: quarterly
For freelancers, landlords or cross-border cases, the document list expands. We provide your specific checklist after the orientation consultation.
Tools & resources
Guides & resources before you file
Orient yourself first, then decide whether you need partner-led filing. These are supporting assets, the tax advisory still happens with a qualified specialist.
What taxes apply to me?
Knowledge Hub . Taxes
Guides, FAQs and orientation content for expat tax questions, property tax, filing basics and when to get help.
Explore guides What documents do I need?Download Center
Checklists and document templates, including self-employed and expat-specific starter lists.
Get checklists How does property affect tax?Property Investment Calculator
Model yield and cash flow for rental property, useful context before landlord taxation questions.
Run the numbers Quick answers first?FAQ Library
Browse frequently asked expat questions across property, tax, insurance and financing topics.
Browse FAQs
Pricing
What does tax support cost?
Tax support is a paid service, we explain fees transparently before you commit. No hidden expectations after document submission.
How pricing typically works
The process starts with a paid orientation consultation to assess your case and route you correctly. After document review, you receive a tailored quote for filing, scope and fee depend on complexity (employee vs freelancer vs cross-border).
- Paid orientation first. The initial consultation qualifies your case and sets expectations.
- Quote after review. Filing fees are confirmed once documents are assessed, not before.
- Refund estimate where possible. For standard returns, we aim to indicate expected refund range before you approve the draft.
Trust
Why expats choose Finance for Expats
A combination of expat-specific routing, specialized tax partners and English-speaking guidance, built into the service, not added as a slogan.
Partner-led filing
Tax returns prepared by specialized Steuerberater partners, not generic advice without submission path.
Expat-specific routing
Foreign income, first-year filings and cross-border cases are assessed before you commit to the wrong path.
Multilingual support
English, German, Spanish, Hindi, Punjabi and Kannada.
Transparent pricing logic
Paid orientation, quote after document review, you know the commercial model before filing starts.
Connected FFE services
Property, mortgage and insurance questions can be routed to the right FFE service from one platform.
Reviewed by FFE advisors
Tax service content is curated by Finance for Expats tax advisors and partners.
Partner-led
Steuerberater filing
6
Languages supported
10+
Years in expat finance
4 yrs
Back-filing window (voluntary)
Client story
From tax confusion to a clear filing plan
A qualitative outcome story: how a freelance expat moved from dreading the Finanzamt to a submitted return she understood. Name changed for privacy.
I had income from a German client and a side project back home, and I genuinely did not know what belonged in which box. I was afraid of doing it wrong and triggering a letter from the Finanzamt. Finance for Expats explained what counted as deductible, what my partner needed to prepare, and walked me through the draft in English before anything was submitted. I ended up with a refund I had not expected, but more importantly, I finally felt in control of my tax situation.
Priya
Freelance consultant · Filed her first full German return
FAQ
Tax questions expats ask first
The questions we hear in almost every consultation. The first one is open by default, answer it before you scroll on.
Not always, but many expats benefit from filing voluntarily. Employees often receive refunds through deductions. Freelancers and landlords usually have stronger filing obligations. We help you understand what applies to your situation.
For most employees filing themselves, the standard deadline is 31 July of the year after the tax year. With tax advisor involvement, extensions often apply. See the Documents & deadlines section above.
Simple employee cases can sometimes be handled with software. Freelancers, landlords, foreign income or cross-border cases usually benefit from partner-led filing. Our fit check helps you decide.
Typically Lohnsteuerbescheinigung, payslips, deduction receipts and prior Steuerbescheid if available. Freelancers need additional business records. See the Documents section or Download Center.
Often yes. Commuting costs, work-related expenses, insurance and other deductions can trigger refunds even when tax was withheld monthly. We aim to indicate refund potential after document review.
Freelancer cases are routed to partners with self-employment experience. We help gather income records, expense documentation and VAT-related items before filing coordination begins.
Tax support is a paid service. The orientation consultation is paid; filing fees are quoted after document review based on complexity. See the Pricing section for the full logic.
In many cases, yes, voluntary returns can be filed up to four years back. Missed filings or Finanzamt letters need individual assessment; mention this in your consultation request.
If you are tax-resident in Germany, worldwide income may need to be reported, with treaty relief where applicable. Foreign income cases are routed to partners with cross-border experience.
We schedule a paid orientation to assess your case, explain the process and confirm next steps. If you proceed, you receive a document list, then a quote after review, before any filing begins.
Ready to get clarity on your taxes?
Request a paid tax consultation or explore guides in the Knowledge Hub first. We help you understand fit, deadlines and what to prepare before filing.
Paid orientation first, we explain scope and pricing before any filing work begins.