2025/2026 Tax Return Deadline: When Do You Need to File?
Mandatory filing by July 31, 2026. Voluntary filing up to 4 years retroactively. And if the deadline has already passed—there’s a way around it.
Need more time? Request an extension in 2 minutes.
Running out of time? In your taxtastic account, you can submit a request for an extension directly to the tax office—quickly and free of charge.
Your deadline—depending on who you are
Select your situation. See right away what applies to you.
Commuter allowance
€0.38/km (starting in 2026) for each workday. Starting at km 1, not just at km 21.
Work-from-home allowance
€6 per day, up to a maximum of €1,260 per year. No proof required.
Work equipment
Laptop, desk, headset, professional literature—all tax-deductible.
What applies to employees?
Not mandatory? Then you have 4 years. On average, employees get €1,172 back—commuters and those working from home often get significantly more.
Go to the Employees’ PagePension Exemption
Calculated automatically. How much of your pension is taxable depends on the year you began receiving it.
Tradespeople & Household Helpers
20% of labor costs, up to €1,200 in tax savings.
Medical Expenses
Medications, doctor’s visits, eyeglasses—if the costs exceed a reasonable burden.
Do retirees have to file a tax return?
Not sure? The Pension Tax Check shows you in under a minute whether you need to file—no registration required.
Go to the Pensioners’ PageAutomatic EÜR
Income-Excess-Accounting calculated directly from your data.
No trade tax
Listed professions (§ 18 EStG) are exempt from business tax. We check this automatically.
Home Office
A proportionate share of rent, internet, and electricity is tax-deductible.
Deadlines for Freelancers & Self-Employed Individuals
Tax advisor: €500–1,500. taxtastic PLUS: €79.99. Includes EÜR, VAT return, and advance return.
Go to the Freelancers pageSecure loss carryforward
Tuition costs as income-related expenses—even without income. The tax office carries forward the loss.
Deadline approaching
For the 2022 tax year, the deadline is now only until the end of 2026. You don’t want to let a €3,180 loss carryforward go to waste.
Why students should file now
Second degree only: Master’s, dual degree program following vocational training = loss carryforward. First degree without vocational training = no carryforward.
Go to the student pageTradespeople’s Services
20% of labor costs are directly tax-deductible—up to €1,200 per year.
Depreciation for Landlords
2% before 2023, 3% starting in 2023. Plus loan interest and ancillary costs (Annex V).
Deadlines for homeowners
Renovated your bathroom? Up to €1,200 in tax savings. Landlords also benefit from depreciation and mortgage interest.
Go to the Homeowners pageNo need to panic.
The tax office usually grants an extension. If you file on your own—even late—you’ll usually get away with just a warning if it’s your first time.
Better to file late than not at all. Otherwise, the tax office will make its own estimate—always to your disadvantage.
Don’t wait for an estimate
If you don’t file, the tax office will estimate your income—and it’s always higher than it needs to be.
Request an extension
Right in your free taxtastic account—no paperwork required. In most cases, it’s granted.
File now
In 20 minutes with taxtastic. The late filing penalty (0.25% per month) is usually less than your refund.
Which years can you still
file now?
Done in 20 minutes.
No download. No certificate. No tax advisor.
Filing retroactively: Your deadlines
For voluntary filings, the four-year deadline applies—there is no extension in this case. If filing is mandatory, the deadline does not begin until the return is filed, at the latest after three years; this leaves up to seven years open.
Mandatory deadline: July 31, 2026.
Mandatory deadline has already passed — voluntary until 2028.
Still 2 years left—but why wait?
This is the next deadline. Act now.
Mandatory filing may still be possible, if applicable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tax Deadlines
When is the 2025 tax return due?
The deadline for the 2025 tax year is July 31, 2026. If you use a tax advisor or an income tax assistance association, you have until February 28, 2027. If you file voluntarily, the 4-year deadline applies—that is, until the end of 2029.
What happens if I miss the tax filing deadline?
The tax office can impose a late-filing penalty: 0.25% of the tax liability per month, with a minimum of €25. In practice, first-time filers will first receive a reminder. If you don’t file at all, you risk having your tax assessed—which is almost always less favorable than your own return.
How many years back can I file a tax return?
Voluntary returns can be filed retroactively for up to 4 years. So, as of the end of 2026, you can still file for 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. If you’re required to file, the window remains open for longer—up to seven years.
As a retiree, do I have to file a tax return?
That doesn’t depend solely on the amount of your pension. Only a portion of your annual pension is taxable—between 50% and 100%, depending on the year your pension began—and a flat-rate deduction of €102 is subtracted from that amount. Only this amount, combined with your other income, is compared to the basic exemption amount. The same pension can therefore remain tax-free or be subject to taxation, depending on when you began receiving it. The free pension tax check on taxtastic calculates this for you based on your pension start date in under a minute.
Until when can I voluntarily file a tax return?
A 4-year deadline applies to voluntary tax returns. For the 2025 tax year, you have until the end of 2029. For the 2022 tax year, the deadline expires at the end of 2026.
Is the deadline automatically extended?
No. Only if you hire a tax advisor or a payroll tax assistance association will the mandatory deadline be extended to February 28 of the year after next. However, you can apply for an individual deadline extension directly with the tax office—which you can set up in two minutes through your free taxtastic account.
What is the difference between mandatory filing and voluntary filing?
With mandatory filing, you’re legally required to file—the deadline is July 31. With voluntary filing, you have four years to file. Whether you’re subject to mandatory filing depends on your type of income, tax bracket, and additional income.
Can taxtastic prepare tax returns for multiple previous years at the same time?
Yes. taxtastic supports tax years starting in 2015. A separate return is created for each tax year and submitted directly via ELSTER.
Technically reviewedSven Schilling
Tax Expert- Bachelor of Business Administration (FH)
- Over 30 years of experience in accounting and tax firms
- Board Member of an Income Tax Assistance Association
This page has been reviewed by Sven Schilling.
How much does taxtastic cost?
You can use taxtastic completely free of charge until you file your tax return. Depending on the type of tax returns you want to file, you’ll pay one of our two rates, so you can see exactly in advance whether it’s worth it or not.
For employees, civil servants, retirees, etc.
- Income Tax Return
- Validation Check
- One price—even for married couples
- Previous years: 4 for voluntary returns, up to 7 for mandatory returns
- Valuable tax tips
For self-employed individuals, freelancers, etc.
- All features of the BASIS plan
- Trade tax return
- Value-Added Tax Return
- Advance sales tax return
- Automatic EÜR. Includes depreciation, IAB, and all reserves.
- Integrated accounting tools
The deadline is approaching.
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