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File your final tax return

Selected criteria

  1. I’m planning to leave Germany
  2. Work, taxes and benefits
  3. File my final tax return

Your final tax return after leaving helps bring together details of salary, deductions, and expenses for the relevant tax year. Start by checking your overall situation and departure plan, then collect annual certificates and supporting documents. Separately review work-related expenses and insurance contributions if they apply to your case. Then complete the return in ELSTER, check the details carefully, and keep the submitted version and responses from the Finanzamt. If the year you leave includes income or circumstances in another country, self-employment, property, investments, or a dispute with the Finanzamt, do not draw conclusions from a general guide: first get individual help. This scenario helps organise preparation but does not replace checking your situation.

Plan overview

A sequence for preparing and filing a tax return after permanently leaving Germany: from collecting certificates to submitting it and choosing help for complex cases.

What to do step by step

  1. 1

    Determine what to include for the year you leave

    Refer to the tax return overview and include it in your overall plan for wrapping up matters before leaving.

    Articles for this step

    Tax Returns in Germany: Who Files, Deadlines, Elster, and Tax Refunds Leaving Germany: A Checklist for Deregistration, Contracts and Taxes
  2. 2

    Gather salary and deduction certificates

    Prepare all Lohnsteuerbescheinigung for the tax year and check their details before completing the form.

    Articles for this step

    Lohnsteuerbescheinigung in Germany: What This Certificate Is and How to Read the Annual Statement
  3. 3

    Gather proof of expenses

    Separate work-related expenses and insurance contributions that may apply to your return from personal spending.

    Articles for this step

    Werbungskosten in Germany: Which Work Expenses You Can Deduct from Taxes Which insurance premiums are tax-deductible in Germany, and how are payouts taxed?
  4. 4

    Check pension matters when leaving

    If your situation involves pension contributions or plans to receive payments abroad, review this area separately.

    Articles for this step

    Germany’s Pension System: State Pension, bAV, Rürup, Riester, and Private Plans
  5. 5

    Complete, check, and submit the return

    Register or sign in to Mein ELSTER, enter the prepared information, validate the form, and submit it.

    Articles for this step

    How to File a Tax Return via ELSTER in Germany
  6. 6

    Choose suitable help if your case is complex

    For unusual income, international circumstances, or a dispute with the Finanzamt, assess whether help from an authorised professional is needed.

    Articles for this step

    Who Can Help with Your Tax Return in Germany Legal and Tax Advice in Germany: How to Choose a Specialist

Important notes

  • Filing may be useful even when it is not mandatory, including after moving.
  • If you had several employers, prepare a separate certificate from each one.
  • Complex circumstances require an individual assessment before filing.

Common mistakes

  • Applying this scenario to a temporary departure
  • Treating a deduction as a direct refund
  • Filing a complex return alone without checking