Who can answer my questions?
See the FAQs, links and contact information below.
Content-related sites
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Contacts for tax-related questions Where can I get information about my personal taxes and tax assessments?
The Federal Ministry of Finance is not permitted to provide legal information regarding individual cases. It is also not permitted to give legal or tax advice. Your tax office or the competent highest Land revenue authority is responsible for assessing individual tax cases and for answering questions relating to your personal tax situation.
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Contacts for tax-related questions How do I obtain my tax identification number?
Tax identification numbers are issued by the Federal Central Tax Office. Their website explains how to get one.
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Contacts for tax-related questions What if I have a question about motor vehicle tax?
Across Germany, the main customs offices are responsible for assessing and collecting motor vehicle tax. You should contact them directly if you have questions about your specific case. For general questions, you can contact the central information desk for motor vehicle tax (Zentrale Auskunft Kraftfahrzeugsteuer).
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General tax-related issues What are the tax rules on travel expenses?
An overview of current flat rates for meals and accommodations expenses (as of 1 January 2026) incurred during business trips abroad is provided in the linked German-language Finance Ministry circular.
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General tax-related issues Where can I find Finance Ministry circulars?
Our website provides a list of Finance Ministry circulars (in German). Please note that we regularly remove older circulars from our website. This does not mean that they are no longer valid. Binding information is found in the Federal Tax Gazette. Older Finance Ministry circulars are available (in German) on the Federal Tax Gazette’s website: www.bstbl.de
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General tax-related issues What are double taxation agreements?
Germany has concluded agreements with over 90 countries to avoid the double taxation of wages and salaries. Employees who live in Germany, but who work in a country that has a double taxation agreement with Germany, generally pay tax on their wages in the country where they work. The same applies to foreign nationals who work in Germany. Our website provides a useful overview.
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FAQs on current topics Where can I find information on the “active pension” scheme?
Information on Germany’s active pension scheme (Aktivrente) is available in our FAQs (in German). For example: What is an active pension, and who can participate in the scheme? How much is an active pension and how is it taken into account when my income tax is calculated?
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FAQs on current topics Where can I find information on new private pension options?
How are state-supported private pensions being reformed? How will the new system work? What products and options will be available? Our FAQs (in German) answer these questions and more.
