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For Employees · Try It for Free

Tax returns for employees.
Get more back. Fewer forms.

On average, employees get over €1,000 back from the tax office. taxtastic finds your commuter allowance, work-from-home deductions, work-related expenses, and other income-related expenses for you.

You don’t pay until you file your return.
Live Calculation
Your refund for tax year 2025
Simplified example
€1,172
Deductible expenses automatically optimized
Commuting allowance
€2,090
Work-from-home allowance
€480
Work equipment
1,200
Official ELSTER interface
Connects directly to your tax office
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Hosting in Germany
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Why filing your tax return is worth it

Your employer withholds income tax. They don’t know your expenses.

Commuting to work, working from home, work equipment, or continuing education can lower your tax burden. Without filing a tax return, many of these costs go unaccounted for.

€1,230

The flat-rate deduction for employment-related expenses is automatically applied.

0.38 €/km

Commuting allowance will be a flat rate per kilometer of distance starting in 2026.

1,260

Maximum annual work-from-home allowance.

How it works

From your job to a completed tax return. In three steps.

01 Your Year

Tell us about your job.

Simple questions about your salary, commute, and personal circumstances. taxtastic automatically identifies which details and forms are relevant to you.

02 Optimize

We’ll identify your income-related expenses.

Commuting allowance, working from home, work equipment, and continuing education: You’ll see right away which expenses increase your refund.

03 Submit

Check. Send. Done.

Automatic validity check and secure transmission via the official ELSTER interface directly to the tax office.

Your tax benefits

What employees can claim as deductions. taxtastic helps you figure it out.

Commuter Allowance

Starting in 2026, a flat rate of €0.38 per kilometer traveled—whether by car, bicycle, or public transportation. For a 30-km commute and 220 days, that amounts to over €2,500 in income-related expenses.

Calculate the 2026 commuter allowance arrow_forward

Work-from-home allowance

€6 per work-from-home day, up to a maximum of €1,260 per year for up to 210 days. No separate home office required.

Calculate the work-from-home allowance arrow_forward

Work Equipment & Technology

Laptop, monitor, office chair, or desk: Purchases used for work purposes may be claimed as income-related expenses.

Continuing Education & Training

Seminars, professional books, language courses, or part-time degree programs: Costs for professional development may qualify as income-related expenses.

A Real-Life Example

Julia doesn’t collect receipts. She collects reimbursements.

Julia, 34 · Marketing Manager
Commuting allowance · 25 km / 220 days €2,090
Working from home · 80 days 480 €
Laptop & monitor: €1,200
Professional association dues: 180 €
Professional development seminar: 690 €
Reimbursement in the example
€1 ,247
Gross annual salary: 52,000 €
The actual refund depends on your individual tax situation.
Why taxtastic

File your taxes without tax jargon. And without unnecessary detours.

Done in 20 minutes

The questionnaire guides you step-by-step through the relevant points for employees.

Smart Tax Tips

taxtastic identifies applicable deductions and shows you ways to optimize your return.

Validation check

Before submission, your entries are automatically checked for errors and inconsistencies.

ELSTER Direct Transmission

Your completed tax return is securely transmitted to the tax office via the official ELSTER interface.

GDPR-compliant & secure

Encrypted processing and hosting in Germany.

Try it first, then pay

Create your tax return and view your refund. You don’t pay until you submit it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it worth filing a tax return as an employee?
Yes, in most cases. Employees receive an average refund of over €1,000. For many employees, the commuter allowance alone already exceeds the flat-rate income-related expenses allowance of €1,230.
What counts as income-related expenses?
Travel expenses, working from home, work equipment such as a computer or office furniture, work clothing, continuing education, professional literature, job application costs, union dues, job-related moving expenses, and maintaining two households.
Can I claim both the work-from-home allowance and the commuter allowance at the same time?
Yes, but not for the same day. On days you work in the office, you claim the commuter allowance; on days you work from home, you claim the daily allowance of €6. taxtastic automatically calculates the optimal allocation. Work-from-home allowance in detail arrow_forward
What if my expenses are less than the flat-rate for income-related expenses?
The €1,230 allowance is automatically taken into account. If you have higher costs, you can report your actual expenses. taxtastic helps you review all relevant costs.
As an employee, do I have to file a tax return?
Not always. Filing is required, for example, for tax class combinations III/V, additional income over 410 €, or wage replacement benefits such as short-time work allowance. Filing voluntarily may also be worthwhile. All tax deadlines for 2025 / 2026 arrow_forward
How much does taxtastic cost?

One price per filing. No subscriptions. No tricks.

Try it for free. You only pay when you file your return.

Basic
€29.99
per filing · One price for married couples
For employees, civil servants, retirees, and other individual taxpayers
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
Register for free
You don’t pay until you submit.

Get back what you’re entitled to.

Tax return for employees—prepared, reviewed, and submitted directly to the tax office via ELSTER. Try it for free; pay only upon submission.

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* Average tax refund based on taxtastic user data.