German employees give almost 1,000,000,000 EUR to the state every year
Do I have to file a tax return? A question that gets asked countless times on Google every day. Mostly by people who perceive working through the explanation sheets as a nuisance rather than what it actually is: a gift!
Only 54 percent of all taxpayers who do not have to file a tax return submit a tax return. It is mostly low-income employees who do not submit a declaration. As a result, taxpayers give the Treasury about one billion euros a year, which they are legally entitled to.
What also plays into the hands of the state: the explanation sheets are hardly understandable for laypeople, ELSTER is too opaque as a platform. Many people find the effort too high or the probability of a repayment too low.
88 percent of all people who submit a voluntary tax return also receive a refund. Even with a low income, this can quickly add up to three to four-digit amounts and secure a family vacation, for example. Or even an annual one-off support to be able to manage everyday life a little better.
So the question shouldn’t be “Do I have to…?”, but rather “May I?” or “How can I do my tax return?” Here’s the answer: Get a tax advisor, contact your income tax assistance association, or try tax apps like Taxfix, who take over the investment digitally for you beyond the tiresome arches and only ask easy-to-understand questions.
If you haven’t filed a tax return yet, what’s stopping you?
Christian Dobner | TLI Steuerberater