Everyone in Germany has a Steuer-ID — most people just don't know where it is. It arrives by post shortly after you register your address, looks deceptively unimportant, and then turns out to be required for practically everything: starting a job, opening certain bank accounts, filing taxes, and more. Here's what it is and what to do if you can't find yours.
Sample only — yours will show your name, date of birth, and your permanent 11-digit number.
🔢 What is the Steuer-ID?
The Steuer-ID — short for Steueridentifikationsnummer — is your permanent personal tax identification number in Germany. It is 11 digits long, assigned to you once, and never changes — regardless of where you move in Germany, how many times you change jobs, or how many tax returns you file. It is issued automatically by the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern (the Federal Central Tax Office) when you register your address for the first time. The letter containing it usually arrives within 2 to 4 weeks of your Anmeldung and looks fairly unassuming for something so important.
🆚 Steuer-ID vs Steuernummer — what is the difference?
These are two different numbers and the confusion between them causes a lot of problems for expats.
Steuer-ID (Steueridentifikationsnummer)
11 digits. Permanent. Assigned at registration. Never changes. Issued by the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern. Required by your employer when you start a job.
Steuernummer
13 digits (varies by state). Issued by your local Finanzamt when you file your first tax return or register as self-employed. Can change if you move to a different tax district. Used on tax returns and invoices for freelancers.
📍 Where to find your Steuer-ID
It may already be in your possession without you realising it. Check these places first before requesting a new letter:
- The original letter from the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern. Sent after your first Anmeldung. It is a simple one-page letter with your number printed clearly.
- Your payslips. Most German payslips include your Steuer-ID in the personal details section at the top.
- Previous tax returns. If you have filed a German tax return before, your Steuer-ID appears on the Steuerbescheid you received afterward.
- Your electronic income tax card (ELStAM). Your employer has this on file — they can confirm your Steuer-ID if you ask HR directly.
- Your Elster online account. If you are registered on elster.de, your Steuer-ID is visible in your profile.
📬 I never received my Steuer-ID. What do I do?
If you are registered in Germany but the letter never arrived — or you lost it — you can request it to be resent. The process is straightforward but slow.
Go to www.bzst.de and use the online form to request your Steuer-ID. You will need your full name, date of birth, and current registered address. The number will be sent by post to your registered address — there is no way to receive it by email, phone, or in person. Germany.
Allow up to 4 weeks for delivery. If you need the number urgently for an employer and cannot wait, explain the situation to HR — most employers are aware of the delay and can apply a temporary tax arrangement while you wait.
💼 Why does my employer need my Steuer-ID?
Your employer uses your Steuer-ID to retrieve your electronic income tax card — known as ELStAM — from the tax authorities. This card contains your tax class, any allowances, and information about whether you have other employers. Without this, your employer cannot set up your payroll correctly and is required by law to apply the least favourable tax class — Steuerklasse VI — which results in significantly higher tax deductions from your salary. Providing your Steuer-ID to HR as early as possible is therefore directly in your financial interest.
🏦 Other situations where your Steuer-ID is required
Beyond employment, the Steuer-ID is required in a growing number of official and financial contexts:
- Opening a German bank account — most banks request it as part of identity verification.
- Filing your annual Steuererklärung (tax return).
- Registering as a freelancer or self-employed with the Finanzamt.
- Applying for child benefit (Kindergeld) — the Familienkasse requires it.
- Pension contributions and retirement planning — the Deutsche Rentenversicherung uses it.
- Certain visa and residence permit applications where the Ausländerbehörde requests proof of tax registration.
🔑 Key terms on the letter explained
- Steueridentifikationsnummer
- Your permanent 11-digit personal tax ID. The full name for what is commonly called the Steuer-ID.
- Bundeszentralamt für Steuern (BZSt)
- The Federal Central Tax Office — the authority that issues and manages Steuer-IDs centrally for all of Germany.
- Steuernummer
- A separate number issued by your local Finanzamt. Used for tax returns and freelance invoices. Can change when you move.
- ELStAM
- Elektronische LohnSteuerAbzugsMerkmale — your electronic payroll tax record, linked to your Steuer-ID and retrieved by your employer.
- Steuerklasse
- Your tax class — determined by your personal situation (single, married, multiple jobs) and applied to your monthly payroll deductions.
- Finanzamt
- Your local tax office. Handles tax returns, issues Steuernummern, and processes assessments. Different from the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern.
⚠️ Mistakes expats make with the Steuer-ID
- Confusing it with the Steuernummer. They look similar but serve different purposes. Your employer needs the Steuer-ID. Your tax return uses the Steuernummer. Giving the wrong one to the wrong place causes delays.
- Not providing it to HR quickly enough. Every month without your Steuer-ID on record, you are likely being taxed at the highest rate. Retroactive corrections are possible but slow.
- Assuming it arrives automatically after Anmeldung. It should — but letters get lost. If you have been registered for more than 6 weeks and nothing arrived, request it proactively from bzst.de.
- Thinking it changes when moving cities. It does not. Your Steuer-ID is for life. Your Steuernummer may change. Your Steuer-ID will not.
- Not keeping the letter. It is a single sheet of paper that looks unimportant. File it somewhere safe — you will need the number repeatedly throughout your time in Germany.
🧒 Does my child have a Steuer-ID?
Yes — every person registered in Germany receives a Steuer-ID, including children. For newborns and children registering for the first time, the Steuer-ID letter is sent to the parents' address after the child is registered at the Einwohnermeldeamt. This is particularly relevant if you are claiming Kindergeld — the Familienkasse requires your child's Steuer-ID as part of the application. Keep it with your other important documents from the moment it arrives.
📤 Got a letter mentioning your Steuer-ID and not sure what it wants?
Sometimes the letter is just delivering your number. Sometimes it is asking you to confirm or update information. Sometimes it arrives alongside a Steuerbescheid or a Finanzamt notice and the two get confusing fast. Upload it to expat.fyi and get a plain English explanation of what the letter is actually saying and what — if anything — you need to do. No account. No subscription. Your letter is not stored. €2.99 and you know exactly where you stand.
€2.99 per letter · No subscription · No account needed