Will my income tax return be assessed automatically or do I have to submit it myself?
February 16, 2024 | 50,00 EUR | answered by Tatiana Herrmann
Dear tax advisor,
My name is Wolfgang Kraftner and I have a question regarding my income tax return. In the past, I have always submitted my tax return myself, but this year I am wondering if it will be automatically assessed. I am unsure if I have made a mistake or if I have potentially missed a deadline.
Last year, I had income from employment as well as from capital gains. Additionally, I claimed deductions for business expenses and special expenses. My wife also works and we file our taxes jointly. I have carefully collected all receipts and documents and have filled out the electronic forms provided by the tax office.
My concern is that my tax return may not reach the tax office on time or that it may not be processed at all. I do not want to miss any deadlines and want to ensure that I have done everything correctly.
Could you please inform me if my income tax return will be automatically assessed or if I need to submit it myself? If I need to submit it myself, is there a deadline that I need to adhere to? Is there a possible reason why my tax return would not be automatically assessed?
Thank you in advance for your help and support.
Sincerely,
Wolfgang Kraftner
Dear Mr. Kraftner,
Thank you for your question regarding the income tax return. It is understandable that you are wondering whether your tax return will be automatically assessed or if you need to take action yourself. I would be happy to help you with this and provide you with all the necessary information.
In Germany, taxpayers are generally required to submit their income tax return themselves. Tax authorities do not usually send automatic requests for tax returns. Therefore, it is your responsibility to submit your tax return on time. The deadline for submitting the income tax return for the calendar year 2021 is usually July 31, 2022. However, if you have hired a tax advisor, they can request an extension for you.
In your case, where you have income from employment, capital gains, deductible expenses, and special expenses, it is especially important to carefully collect all relevant documents and receipts and include them in your tax return. Since you have filed jointly with your wife, her income and expenses must also be taken into account in the tax return.
It is unlikely that your tax return will be automatically assessed, as in most cases an active submission by the taxpayer is required. If you are unsure whether your tax return has been received by the tax office, you can check this by phone or online via the Elster portal.
I recommend submitting your tax return promptly to avoid missing any deadlines. If you feel unsure about preparing the tax return, you can also seek the help of a tax advisor to ensure that everything is filled out correctly.
I hope this information has been helpful to you. If you have any further questions, I am at your disposal.
Kind regards,
Tatiana Herrmann
