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Steuererklärung: How to Get Your German Tax Refund Every Year

2025-02-16

Learn how to file a Steuererklärung in Germany and get hundreds of euros back every year — a practical guide for Moroccans working in Germany.

Every year, thousands of workers in Germany leave hundreds — sometimes thousands — of euros on the table simply because they never file a tax return. If you moved from Morocco to work or do an Ausbildung in Germany, the Steuererklärung (German tax return) is one of the most powerful financial tools available to you. Filing it correctly could put €500, €1,000, or even more back in your pocket — legally and every single year.

What Is a Steuererklärung and Why Should You File One?

A Steuererklärung is the annual tax declaration you submit to the German tax office (Finanzamt). Your employer already deducts income tax (Lohnsteuer) from your salary every month. But that automatic deduction is based on rough estimates — it doesn't account for your actual expenses, your personal situation, or any deductions you're entitled to claim.

When you file a tax return, the Finanzamt recalculates what you actually owe. In most cases, especially for employees, Azubis (apprentices), and newly arrived immigrants, you get money back.

Who Has to File — and Who Should File Voluntarily?

Mandatory filing applies if you:

• Have income from two or more sources (e.g., a side job alongside your main job)
• Received more than €410 in wage replacement benefits like Kurzarbeitergeld or Elterngeld
• Were married and you or your spouse chose tax class combinations III/V

Voluntary filing is open to almost everyone else — and this is where most Moroccan workers and Azubis in Germany benefit the most. You have 4 years to file voluntarily. That means in 2025 you can still file returns for 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

How Much Money Can You Actually Get Back?

The average tax refund in Germany is around €1,095 per year, according to the German Taxpayers Association (Bund der Steuerzahler). Of course, your refund depends on your personal situation, but here are realistic examples:

• Azubi earning €800/month in Dortmund: Paid ~€600 in Lohnsteuer over the year, gets back ~€400–€500 after deducting work-related expenses and commuting costs.
• Skilled worker earning €2,500/month in Munich: Paid ~€4,800 in taxes; after deducting rent for a second home near work, professional training costs, and union fees, gets back €800–€1,400.
• First-year worker who moved from Morocco: Moving expenses, German language course fees, and travel home for family visits may all count as deductible — refund potential is often higher in the first year.

The math is simple: the more legitimate deductions you can document, the larger your refund.

What Can You Deduct? The Key Categories

This is where most people miss out. You don't need to be a tax expert — you just need to know what costs are deductible.

Werbungskosten — Work-Related Expenses

Germany automatically grants everyone a flat deduction of €1,230 (as of 2023) for work-related expenses. But if your actual costs exceed this, you should list them:

• Commuting costs (Pendlerpauschale): €0.30 per km for the first 20 km, €0.38/km beyond that, for every working day. Example: 25 km commute × 220 working days × blended rate = roughly €1,700 in deductions.
• Work clothing and tools: Costs for uniforms, safety shoes, or professional tools not provided by your employer.
• Professional training and certifications: Language courses related to your job, professional development seminars.
• Union membership fees (Gewerkschaftsbeiträge): Fully deductible if you're a member of IG Metall, Ver.di, or another union.
• Home office costs: If you worked from home, you can deduct €6 per day, up to €1,260/year (2023 rules).

Sonderausgaben — Special Expenses

• Health insurance contributions you pay yourself (relevant if you switched providers)
• Church tax (Kirchensteuer): Fully deductible
• Donations to registered charities
• Riester pension contributions (up to €2,100/year)

Außergewöhnliche Belastungen — Extraordinary Expenses

Medical bills, dental costs, or costs of supporting family members in Morocco can sometimes qualify here — this requires documentation, but it's worth exploring.

Moving Costs (Umzugskosten)

If you moved to Germany for work or relocated within Germany for a new job, a significant portion of your moving costs is deductible. The flat rate (Umzugskostenpauschale) for a single person in 2024 is €964. Receipts for transport, temporary housing, and re-registration costs can push this higher.

How to Actually File Your Steuererklärung

You have several options, ranging from free to professional:

Option 1: ELSTER (Free, Official)

ELSTER (www.elster.de) is the official German tax portal. It's free, secure, and directly connected to the Finanzamt. The interface is in German, which can be a barrier — but if your German is at B1 level or above, it's manageable. You'll need to register first with your tax ID (Steuer-ID), which you receive by post when you register your address in Germany.

Option 2: Tax Apps (Easy and Affordable)

Several apps make filing much simpler, with English-language support and guided questionnaires:

• Taxfix (taxfix.de): ~€39.99 per return, English available, average refund claim: €1,063
• Wundertax (wundertax.de): ~€29.95, simple interview-style questions
• SteuerGo (steuergo.de): Free to calculate, pay only to submit (~€29.95)
• WISO Steuer (buhl.de): ~€34.99, more powerful for complex situations

Option 3: Lohnsteuerhilfeverein (Tax Assistance Club)

For a small annual membership fee (usually €50–€150 depending on your income), you get personalized help from a certified tax advisor. Search for clubs like Lohnsteuerhilfe Bayern e.V. or VLH (vlh.de). This is a great option if your situation is slightly complex — for example, if you support family in Morocco or have income from multiple sources.

Option 4: Steuerberater (Tax Consultant)

A professional tax consultant (Steuerberater) costs €150–€500+ per return but handles everything for you. Worth it if you're self-employed or have a complicated tax situation.

Step-by-Step: What You Need to Gather

Before you start, collect these documents:

• Lohnsteuerbescheinigung — your annual wage and tax statement from your employer (usually provided in January/February)
• Steuer-ID — your personal tax identification number (11 digits)
• Bank IBAN — for the refund transfer
• Receipts or records for commuting distances
• Receipts for any deductible expenses (training, tools, work clothing)
• Health insurance premium statements
• Any other relevant certificates (Riester, church tax, donations)

Deadlines You Need to Know

• Mandatory filers: July 31 of the following year (e.g., July 31, 2025 for the 2024 tax year). With a tax advisor, you get until the end of February the year after that.
• Voluntary filers: 4 years from the end of the tax year. For 2020, the deadline was December 31, 2024 — so don't delay for more recent years.

Missing deadlines for mandatory returns results in late-filing penalties (Verspätungszuschlag) of at least €25 per month.

What People Get Wrong About the Steuererklärung

• "I don't earn enough to file." Even if you earned below the basic tax-free allowance (Grundfreibetrag — €11,604 in 2024), you may still have had tax deducted and should file to get it back.
• "It's too complicated." Tax apps like Taxfix make it a 20-minute process for most employees.
• "I already left Germany, so it's too late." False. You can file from abroad, and the 4-year window still applies.
• "My employer already does it." No employer files your Steuererklärung. They submit your wage data to the Finanzamt, but the actual return is your responsibility.
• "I'll owe money if I file." If you were a regular salaried employee the whole year, it's very rare to owe money after filing. The risk is real only in specific situations (e.g., you had two jobs simultaneously at a combined unfavorable tax class).
• "I can't claim anything — I just arrived." First-year filers often have the highest refunds because of moving costs, language course fees, and the fact that the tax office didn't know your full situation yet.

Conclusion

Filing your Steuererklärung is one of the smartest financial moves you can make as a Moroccan worker or Azubi in Germany. It takes a few hours, costs little or nothing, and the average return is over €1,000. The longer you wait, the more unclaimed money you're leaving behind.

Start with a free calculation on Taxfix or SteuerGo — you'll see your estimated refund before paying anything. If you want help understanding the German system, your rights as a worker, and how to build a strong professional foundation in Germany, Book a consultation with our specialist and start your journey today.