Tax advisors (Steuerberater) help you with your personal and business taxes. A tax advisor can:
- Help you understand your taxes
- File your tax declaration
- Help you start a business
- Prepare documents to renew your freelance visa
- Take care of your business taxes (VAT, Gewerbesteuer, …)
Tax advisors are legally liable for the advice they give. If they make a mistake, they pay for it.
When to hire a tax advisor
Hire a tax advisor when…
- You have a complicated tax situation
For example, you have income from multiple countries, income from multiple sources, or problems that tax software can’t solve. - You want someone to take care of everything
They can talk with the Finanzamt, and do all your taxes for you. You don’t have to do anything. This makes your life much easier. - You are starting a business
A tax advisor can register your business, explain how business taxes work, and help you avoid expensive mistakes. They must also stamp documents for your freelance visa application and renewal. When you understand how to run your business, you can use tax software for freelancers instead. - You must renew a freelance visa
A tax advisor must prepare and stamp some of the required documents. You can’t renew your freelance visa without one. - You are in trouble
If you have problems with the Finanzamt, and you don’t know what to do. They can take care of all communications with the Finanzamt. They can quickly solve your problem.
If you have a simple tax situation, you don’t need a tax advisor. The Finanzamt already knows how much you earned from your job. You might not need to make a tax declaration. Just use ELSTER or tax software to declare tax-deductible expenses.
Cost of a tax advisor
If you are an employee, you pay 300€ to 1,000€ for a tax declaration.2 The prices vary a lot. Use this calculator to estimate the costs.
If you are self-employed, you must pay more. If you don’t charge VAT, it costs 300€ to 800€ per year. If you charge VAT, it costs 700€ to 2,000€ per year. The prices vary a lot. The only way to know is to call and ask.
The cost of a tax advisor is tax-deductible.1
Alternatives to a tax advisor
Tax advisors are expensive and hard to find.6 Most of them refuse new clients. There are other ways to do your taxes in Germany.
Look outside of Berlin
Your tax advisor can be anywhere in Germany. It’s easier if you look in other German cities.
Tax software
If your tax situation is simple, use tax software. For example, if you have a full-time job and no tax-deductible expenses.
Using tax software cheaper and easier than finding a tax advisor. There are English-speaking options.
Buchhalter
Bookkeepers (Buchhalter) are cheaper than tax advisors, because they are not certified professionals. Anyone can be a Buchhalter.
They can help you file your tax declaration, but you must verify their work, and submit the tax declaration yourself. If they make a mistake, it’s your problem.
Lohnsteuerhilfeverein
A tax help union (Lohnsteuerhilfeverein) is a non-profit organisation that helps its members file their taxes. They are cheaper than tax advisors, but their competence varies a lot.3
The membership costs 30€ to 300€ per year, depending on your income.5 Only employees can be members, not self-employed people.4
Freelancer cooperative
Smart is a cooperative for freelancers. If you are a member, they take care of invoicing, taxes, and many other things for you. They also give you an employment contract and a steady income.
If you want the flexibility of a freelancer and the stability of a job, it’s a good option.
List of English-speaking tax advisors
Other lists
- DATEV Kammersuchservice – search tax advisors by language
Sources and footnotes
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Suat Göydeniz (2022) ⤴
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bubolz-bartsch.de (August 2019), reddit.com ⤴
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bubolz-bartsch.de (August 2019) ⤴
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bubolz-bartsch.de (August 2019) ⤴