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Taxes and our love - hate relationship with them

Germany's tax law is one of the most complicated in the world but also one of the most beneficial if used correctly.

Most expats don't file their tax return
€1,200 – €5,000+average refund — scales with your income
4 years of refunds still possibleTax year 2022 still claimable · your deadline is Jul 31 or Dec 31, 2026

Germany has two tax rates that matter: your average rate — what you actually pay overall — and your marginal rate, the rate on every additional euro you earn. When you reduce your taxable income through deductions, you don't save at the average rate. You save at the marginal rate. That's always higher. And for higher earners, the difference is significant.

38.6%
Marginal rate
23.7%
Effective rate
€0
Tax saved
0%14%24%42%45%050k100k150k
Marginal rate (Grenzsteuersatz)Effective rate (Durchschnittssteuersatz)Tax saved
Gross income
€60,000
Deductions
€0
What's deductible?

The hard part is understanding the system — and you just did that. Now it's about putting it to work. Filing a return in Germany is more straightforward than it looks, and the upside is real.

What's the right path for you?

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One-to-one sessions and webinars — free of charge, that's our promise.

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Quick check with us

Free · 15 min

A short one-to-one call: you describe your situation, we give you an honest read on whether a tax app is enough or a tax advisor is worth it. No obligation.

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Tax webinar

Free · Online

Live webinars with our tax expert Tim Schmitz — upcoming dates and recordings are listed under Events.

Find the right way yourself

Guided funnels: you click through, and we connect you directly with the right partner — no meeting needed.

Tax app

Fast · Very affordable

The DIY route. Works well if your situation is straightforward — one employer, no foreign income, no special deductions.

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Tax consultant

Complex casesHigher potential

More paperwork, more back-and-forth — but also more room to think outside the box. A good advisor finds angles an app never would, and handles cases with real complexity.

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What expats say

"I thought filing wasn't worth it. Turns out I was owed €2,200. The app made it completely painless."

James K.Used the app

"The free call saved me hours of research. I had no idea I could deduct my relocation costs."

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"My situation with two countries and a stock vest was too complex for apps. The advisor was worth every cent."

Marco B.Used an advisor