How can I find out if I have the right tax class?
June 25, 2022 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Yvonne Schreiber
Dear tax consultant,
My name is Babette Evers and I have been working in a permanent employment for several years. Lately, I have noticed that my tax deductions are higher than those of my colleagues. I am wondering if I might be classified in the wrong tax class and therefore paying too much taxes.
Currently, I am classified in tax class I, even though I am married and my spouse has no income. This situation could mean that I might be able to switch to a different, more advantageous tax class.
My concern is that because of being in the wrong tax class, I have unnecessarily high tax deductions every year, resulting in less net income available to me at the end of the year. Therefore, I would like to find out if I am indeed in the correct tax class and make any necessary changes.
Could you please explain to me how I can determine if I am in the right tax class? What criteria do I need to consider and what documents do I need for this? Are there possible solutions to review and potentially change my current tax class?
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Babette Evers
Dear Mrs. Evers,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding your tax class. It is understandable that you are concerned if you feel that you are paying too much taxes. It is important to have the correct tax class to avoid unnecessary deductions and maximize your net income.
As a married person, you generally have the option to switch to tax class IV if your spouse does not have their own income. In tax class IV, the incomes of both spouses are jointly assessed, which often leads to a lower tax burden. Tax class I is usually for single individuals or for married couples where both spouses have their own income.
To find out if you have the correct tax class, you should contact the tax office. There, you can request a review of your tax class and potentially make a change. You will typically need your income tax card, your ID card, and possibly your spouse's tax identification number.
You also have the option to consult a tax advisor or a wage tax assistance association to review your tax situation. A professional tax advisor can help you determine the most advantageous tax class for you and make a switch if necessary.
It is important that you take care of reviewing your tax class in a timely manner, as changes are usually only possible at the beginning of a new year. Therefore, I recommend that you contact the tax office or a tax advisor promptly to clarify your tax situation.
I hope that this information has been helpful to you. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Yvonne Schreiber, Tax Advisor
