Last updated: 26 October 2026
đš The common Finanzamt letters
Most letters from your Finanzamt fall into one of these types. The heading usually tells you which one you have.
đ Where to find the key facts on the letter
- Steuernummer: your tax number with this Finanzamt, near the top. Quote it on every payment and reply.
- Aktenzeichen: the file reference, if there is one. Quote it too.
- Datum: the date of the letter. Since 2025 a posted notice counts as delivered on the fourth day after it was sent (§ 122 Abs. 2 AO), and deadlines run from then.
- Deadline phrases: âbis zumâ (by), âspĂ€testensâ (at the latest), âinnerhalb eines Monats nach Bekanntgabeâ (within one month of delivery).
- Amount: Nachzahlung or âzu zahlenâ means you pay; Erstattung means money comes back.
- Payment details: the Finanzamt's IBAN and the Verwendungszweck (payment reference). Use the reference exactly, or the payment may not be matched.
- Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung: the paragraph near the end explaining how and by when you can object.
â° Deadlines that matter
The one most people need is the one-month window to object to a Steuerbescheid with an Einspruch. Our Steuerbescheid guide explains how it is counted and what to write. Payment dates are printed on the letter itself. If you cannot meet a deadline, write to the Finanzamt before it passes; asking afterwards is much harder.
đ€ Why Google Translate isn't enough
A translation tells you what the words say. It does not tell you which of three dates is the deadline, whether a number is a payment or a refund, or whether you can ignore the letter. General AI assistants do better, but they can miss how German tax offices work and sometimes sound more certain than they should. Use them for vocabulary, and check the deadline and amount on the letter yourself.
đ When to call the Finanzamt or a Steuerberater
- Call or write to the Finanzamt if you only need a deadline extended, a payment plan, or a missing document explained.
- Ask a Steuerberater (tax adviser) if a large back payment looks wrong, you want to file an Einspruch with reasons, you are self-employed and unsure what to declare, or the letter mentions enforcement or a tax investigation.
- Check which Finanzamt you belong to: in Berlin it depends on your district, see which Finanzamt covers your Berlin address.
- If the letter concerns your tax class, the Steuerklasse calculator shows which class fits your situation.
đ€ How expat.fyi works for a Finanzamt letter
- Upload a photo or PDF of the letter (up to 3 pages).
- See a preview: what kind of letter it is and how urgent.
- Pay âŹ2.99 (or use a Letter Pack, âŹ9.99 for 5 letters) to get the full plain English explanation, the deadline and the next steps.
- If we can't help with your letter, you don't pay. Your letter itself is not stored.
Words you keep seeing, like Festsetzung or SĂ€umniszuschlag, are explained in the tax section of our glossary.
âŹ2.99 per letter (up to 3 pages) · Letter Pack âŹ9.99 for 5 · Preview before you pay · If we can't help, you don't pay
â Frequently asked questions
How do I understand a German letter from the Finanzamt in English?
Work out which letter it is from the heading (Bescheid, Mahnung, Aufforderung), then find three things: the amount (Nachzahlung or Erstattung), the deadline (look for 'bis zum' or 'innerhalb eines Monats') and what is being asked of you. If you are unsure, upload the letter to expat.fyi: you get a plain English explanation and the next steps for âŹ2.99, and you see a preview before you pay.
Can I just use Google Translate or ChatGPT for a Finanzamt letter?
Translation tools give you the words, not what they mean for you. General AI assistants can help but sometimes miss which deadline applies or what the Finanzamt actually expects. Use them to understand the vocabulary, and check the deadline and the amount on the letter itself before you act.
What happens if I ignore a letter from the Finanzamt?
It depends on the letter. A Steuerbescheid becomes final after the one-month Einspruch window. If you do not file a return you were asked to file, the Finanzamt can estimate your tax and add a late filing surcharge. Unpaid tax attracts a late payment surcharge (SĂ€umniszuschlag) of 1% per started month and can be collected by enforcement. None of this goes away by itself.
How do I know if a Finanzamt letter is urgent?
It is urgent if it asks you to pay (Nachzahlung, Zahlungsaufforderung), gives a deadline (bis zum, spÀtestens, innerhalb von), asks for documents, or mentions Vollstreckung (enforcement). A refund (Erstattung) or a simple confirmation is usually not urgent, but check the figures anyway.
Can I reply to the Finanzamt in English?
German is the official language for tax matters (§ 87 Abgabenordnung). Some officers will read a short English letter, but the Finanzamt can ask you for a German translation, and a deadline may only count as met once the German version arrives. For anything with a deadline, such as an Einspruch, write in German or ask a Steuerberater.
How much does expat.fyi cost to explain my letter?
âŹ2.99 per letter, up to 3 pages, or a Letter Pack of 5 letters for âŹ9.99. No subscription and no account. You see a preview before you pay, and if we can't help, you don't pay.