Mandatory filing by July 31, 2026. Voluntary filing up to 4 years retroactively. And if the deadline has already passed—there’s a way out.
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.
Select your situation. See right away what applies to you.
0.38 €/km (starting in 2026) for each workday. Starting at 1 km, not just at 21 km.
€6 per day, up to a maximum of €1,260 per year. No proof required.
Laptop, desk, headset, professional literature—all tax-deductible.
Calculated automatically. The portion of your pension that is taxable depends on the year your pension began.
20% of labor costs, up to €1,200 in tax savings.
Medications, doctor visits, eyeglasses—if the costs exceed a reasonable burden.
Income-Expenditure Accounting generated directly from your data.
Listed professions (§ 18 EStG) are exempt from trade tax. We check this automatically.
A proportionate share of rent, internet, and electricity is tax-deductible.
Educational expenses as income-related expenses—even without income. The tax office carries forward the loss.
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.
20% of labor costs are directly tax-deductible—up to €1,200 per year.
2% before 2023, 3% starting in 2023. Plus loan interest and ancillary costs (Schedule V).
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 estimate your taxes on its own—always to your disadvantage.
If you don’t file, the tax office will estimate your income—and it will always be higher than necessary.
Right in your free taxtastic account—no paperwork required. In most cases, it’s granted.
In 20 minutes with taxtastic. The late filing penalty (0.25% per month) is usually less than your refund.
No download. No certificate. No tax advisor.
For voluntary tax returns, the four-year deadline applies—there is no extension. If there is a mandatory filing requirement, the deadline does not begin until the return is filed, no later than three years after the filing deadline; this leaves up to seven years open.
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. For voluntary filing, the 4-year deadline applies—that is, until the end of 2029.
The tax office may 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 fail to file at all, you risk having your taxes assessed—which is almost always less favorable than your own 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.
That depends on the amount of your pension. If your total pension exceeds the basic exemption amount (2025: €11,784) and the pension exemption amount, you are required to file. The free pension tax check on taxtastic will show you in under a minute.
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.
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—you can set it up in two minutes in your free taxtastic account.
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.
Yes. taxtastic supports tax years starting in 2015. A separate return is created for each tax year and submitted directly via ELSTER.
Done in 20 minutes. Register and try it for free; pay only when you submit. Catch up on all tax years 2022–2025 in one go.