How much German tax
can you get back?
International workers in Germany overpay an average of €600–€1,200 in tax every year. Calculate your refund in 30 seconds.
Your details
Adjust the values to match your situation
Partial-year workers often get a larger refund!
Student or part-time worker
Eligible for an extra €800 deduction
Worked from home
€6 per day, max €1,260 (Homeoffice-Pauschale)
Estimated refund
~€926
Range: €750 – €1,100
Tax withheld
€3,384
Effective rate
14.1%
Deductions applied
Timeline
Free to start · No upfront payment required
Don't miss the deadline. You can claim for 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The 2021 window closes at end of 2025.
Deductions
What counts in your favour
German tax law offers dozens of deductions. Our calculator applies the most common ones automatically.
Werbungskosten-Pauschbetrag
€1,230
Standard work-expense lump sum — every employee gets this automatically.
Homeoffice-Pauschale
up to €1,260
€6 per home-office day (max 210 days). Introduced post-COVID.
Doppelte Haushaltsführung
up to €1,000/mo
If you maintain a home abroad and rent in Germany, both costs can be deducted.
Commute (Pendlerpauschale)
€0.30/km
One-way distance from home to workplace, every working day.
Student / part-time bonus
+€800
Students and mini-jobbers often have additional deductible expenses.
Partial year adjustment
biggest factor
If you worked fewer than 12 months, the Finanzamt refunds overpaid monthly taxes.
FAQ
Common questions
Who can claim a German tax refund?
Anyone who was employed and paid Lohnsteuer in Germany — regardless of nationality. This includes seasonal workers, students, expats, and people who worked for only part of the year.
How many years back can I claim?
You can file for the last 4 tax years. In 2025, you can still claim for 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
How long does the refund take?
The Finanzamt typically processes returns in 3–6 months. Returns filed earlier in the year tend to be processed faster.
Do I need to be living in Germany?
No. You can claim a refund even after you've left Germany, as long as you have a German bank account or are willing to provide one for the transfer.
What documents do I need?
Your Lohnsteuerbescheinigung (employer salary certificate), passport or ID, bank IBAN, and a signed power of attorney authorising SteuerBack to file on your behalf.
Is the calculator estimate accurate?
It's a good-faith estimate using real German tax tables (Grundtarif 2024). The actual amount depends on your exact deductions, which we calculate precisely once you apply.
Ready to claim your refund?
Create a free account, upload your documents, and we'll handle everything with the Finanzamt. Takes about 10 minutes.
Start my applicationNo upfront payment · 4-year back-claim available