What happens if I forget to change my tax class in time?
November 3, 2023 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Friedhelm Peters
Dear tax advisor,
My name is Ulrike Schönecker and I have a question regarding my tax class. I recently noticed that I forgot to change my tax class in time. Normally, I was in tax class III because I am married and my husband earns significantly more than I do. However, I have recently taken on a new job where my salary is now higher than before. Unfortunately, I have only just realized that I forgot to adjust my tax class due to my higher income.
My concern now is that I may have paid too little in taxes or that I may face a tax repayment. I am not sure how this mistake will affect my tax situation and what consequences I can expect. Are there possible solutions to correct this error and how can I ensure that I do not get into tax trouble?
I would be very grateful if you could help me and provide me with an assessment of how best to proceed to update my tax class and avoid any potential consequences. Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Yours sincerely,
Ulrike Schönecker
Dear Mrs. Schönecker,
Thank you for your question regarding your tax class. It is understandable that you are concerned, as a wrong classification in the tax class can have financial consequences. In your case, since you forgot to adjust your tax class due to your higher income, it is important that you act quickly to avoid possible back payments or other issues.
First of all, it is important to understand how the tax class affects your tax situation. In tax class III, which you have had so far, less income tax is withheld, as your husband earns significantly more than you. Now that you have a higher salary, you should actually switch to a higher tax class to take into account the higher tax rate.
To correct this mistake, you need to change your tax class at the tax office. You should contact your responsible tax office as soon as possible and apply for a change in your tax class. You can either speak to them in person or submit a written application.
It is important that you have all relevant information about your income and current job situation ready to correctly fill out the application for a change in tax class. The tax office will then assess whether a change in your tax class is necessary and act accordingly.
Regarding possible consequences for your tax situation, I cannot make a precise statement as this depends on various factors such as your income, your previous tax class, and other personal circumstances. You may face a tax back payment if you have not paid enough taxes. In this case, you should seek advice early to solve potential problems.
I hope that I could help you with this information and I am happy to assist you with any further questions. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need further support.
Best regards,
Friedhelm Peters
Tax advisor
