1. Union and social organization counseling centers (free tax assistance)
Where to find them?
Low-income initiatives
Welfare associations such as Caritas, Diakonie, AWO
Student and youth centers (Studentenwerk)
Consumer Protection Center (Verbraucherzentrale)
They offer free or low-cost support for:
Bürgergeld or social assistance recipients
People with low income
Students and trainees (Azubis)
2. Income tax assistance associations (Lohnsteuerhilfevereine)
What are they?
Non-profit associations offering low-cost tax advice for employees — under the condition that:
You have no income from business or self-employment
You are an employee, retiree, or trainee
Cost:
Annual membership fee (usually 50–300 €)
Fee depends on your yearly income
→ Much cheaper than a private tax advisor (Steuerberater)
Examples:
Vereinigte Lohnsteuerhilfe e.V. (VLH)
Lohi
Einkommensteuerhilfeverein Deutschland
3. Student support (Studentenwerk)
Most universities offer:
Free student counseling
Workshops on how to fill out your tax return
Some even help with ELSTER
4. Free online tax tools (self-help)
| Program / Website | Advantages |
|---|---|
| ELSTER.de | Free from the Finanzamt – for self-submitted tax returns |
| Vereinssoftware | Software from Lohnsteuerhilfevereine for remote data entry |
| Taxfix / WISO / Smartsteuer | Free or low-cost depending on income and case |
For low income, some tools are fully free.
5. Refugee and migrant support projects
Organizations such as:
Refugee Law Clinics
Migrant self-help groups
City counseling centers
→ Offer free support in various languages, sometimes including tax matters.
If your situation is simple, such as:
Employee with one source of income (no side job)
No rental, business, or freelance income
No investments or stocks
→ You can easily use ELSTER or a simple software on your own.
| German term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Steuerberatung | Tax consultation |
| Lohnsteuerhilfeverein | Wage tax assistance association |
| Steuererklärung | Annual tax declaration |
| ELSTER | Official online tax portal |
| Steuerberater | Private tax advisor (usually costly) |
There are many free or low-cost options for tax support.
Lohnsteuerhilfevereine offer excellent, affordable alternatives.
ELSTER allows you to file your tax return for free.
Not everyone qualifies for every service — check your personal situation.
Note: Information is carefully researched but may contain errors. Always consult official authorities for final guidance.
