June 24, 2023, 12:28 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
Filing taxes is a necessary evil that many can’t avoid. However, there are now several apps that can help you complete this task quickly and easily. TECHBOOK explains what the most well-known tax apps can do.
Elster was supposed to make filing taxes significantly easier. However, many taxpayers find the official software from the tax administration difficult to use. It’s too complicated, confusing, and not very user-friendly on smartphones. Additionally, there’s no help available for problems, so you might end up needing a tax advisor after all. Apps like Steuerbot and Taxfix promise to guide users through the tax jungle. But how well does this work in practice, and can tax apps really replace a tax advisor?
Overview
Deadline for Submitting the Income Tax Return
This year, the income tax return for 2022 is due. Those who file their taxes on their own can submit them to the tax office by October 2, 2023. This year’s deadline is slightly shorter than last year’s, which ended on October 31, 2022. However, those who get help from a wage tax assistance association or a tax advisor can take until July 31, 2024 to submit their return.
By the way, those who seek advice for their tax return can still submit it for 2021 this year. The deadline for this is August 31, 2023.
After submitting the income tax return, the tax offices get to work. How long they take to process it depends heavily on the state, according to the German Taxpayers Association in a recent analysis. Generally, it seems that processing times are slightly longer this year. On average, applicants have to wait 4 to 16 days longer for their tax assessment than last year. One reason is the many property tax returns that have been processed alongside income tax returns since July 2022. According to the analysis, tax offices in Berlin are once again the fastest at processing, followed by Hamburg, then Saxony, Bavaria, Thuringia, and Rhineland-Palatinate. On average, taxpayers in Brandenburg and Bremen have to wait the longest.
The majority of Germans now have to submit their tax returns digitally. Exceptions are rare and apply only to employees, retirees, and pensioners who have no other taxable income. For this reason, tax programs have become increasingly popular in recent years. Through “Mein Elster,” the income tax return can be electronically and freely submitted to the tax office. However, the platform is not particularly user-friendly, which is why many users now turn to alternative programs or tax apps. It’s good to know that these also rely on Elster, transmitting data in the background via the tax administration’s software. Below, we introduce some of these tax apps.
Also of interest: “Steuerfabi” offers tips on how to best deduct hardware from taxes
Taxfix
“Taxfix” features an intuitive user interface where you don’t have to fill out form fields. Instead, you go through a predetermined list of questions. A major advantage of “Taxfix” is that you can also complete your tax return on a PC or laptop, as the service works equally well in a web browser.
In the free mode, you can already calculate the expected tax refund. It costs 39.99 euros for individuals and 59.99 euros for couples and registered partnerships. This is undoubtedly cheaper than a local tax advisor. However, whether the tax savings are the same depends on the specific case. Additionally, self-employed individuals or freelancers are currently excluded from “Taxfix,” according to the website.
Also of interest: “Steuerfabi” offers tips on how to best deduct hardware from taxes
Steuerbot
Similar to “Taxfix,” “Steuerbot” also uses a guided question list instead of form fields. The standardized Elster interface is used to submit the expected tax refund calculation for free.
If you have additional questions, a support team of tax experts is available to respond within 24 hours. An advantage over “Taxfix”: If the refund is less than 100 euros, usage is free, provided there is no obligation to file a return.
WISO Steuer
“WISO Steuer” by Buhl Data Service has long been known for its reliability. It has also performed well in past reviews, such as by Finanztest. A major advantage over other apps is that “WISO Steuer” runs not only on Android and iOS smartphones but also on PCs, Macs, and in browsers. Unlike its competitors, self-employed individuals can explicitly use WISO Steuer to file their taxes.
The app is also suitable for freelancers, retirees, and pensioners. The standard version of WISO Steuer costs 34.95 euros per tax year, allowing up to five returns to be filed. Starting at 134.95 euros, there is also a “Profi-Check” option, which allows you to have your tax return professionally reviewed.
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Kontist Tax Service
An interesting alternative to the previously mentioned tax apps is “Kontist.” Known for its unique approach, “Kontist” offers a service where you don’t have to fill out your tax return yourself. Instead, tax advisors specifically trained for self-employed individuals handle it for you. This service can be added to the checking account in the “Kontist” app.
This makes “Kontist” undoubtedly the most convenient solution among all the tax apps, as it handles the tax return process for you. The service includes income tax returns, VAT returns, and annual financial statements, starting at 179 euros per month.
Read also: 3 apps that make learning a new language easy
Who Must File a Tax Return–and Who Doesn’t?
How to Properly Tax Cryptocurrency–What to Watch Out For
Kontist Tax Service
„WISO Steuer“ offers the best overall package among the mentioned tax apps in many aspects. It is also quite comparable in price to “Steuerbot” and “Taxfix,” but explicitly includes self-employed individuals as a professional group. In contrast, “Taxfix” and “Steuerbot” are primarily suitable for employees, as they use standardized queries. For more complex cases, especially when it comes to value-added tax and depreciation, self-employed individuals will likely still need a tax advisor.