Germany’s Tax Office Sends 50,000 Pre-Filled Returns in Digital Pilot — But Miss the July 31 Deadline and Pay

Millions of Germans who must file a 2025 tax return by doing it themselves face a hard cutoff: July 31, 2026. Miss it, and penalties kick in automatically.

The statutory deadline applies to anyone required to file — people with secondary income above €410, married couples in tax classes III and V, or recipients of replacement income such as parental allowance. Those who hire a tax advisor or a wage-tax assistance association get an extension: their deadline falls in late February or early March 2027.

Late filers incur a penalty of 0.25% of the assessed tax per month, with a minimum charge of €25 for each started month. Taxpayers can request an informal extension from their local tax office if they have a valid reason.

Digital Push: Thuringia Tests Pre-Filled Tax Assessments

Authorities are leaning into digital tools. In Thuringia, a pilot called “Amsel” sent roughly 50,000 pre-filled tax-assessment proposals to residents whose income comes only from employment, pensions, or retirement benefits. Recipients have until the end of July to accept — so far, about one-third have done so.

Once a tax assessment is issued, taxpayers have four weeks to file an objection. Challenging the decision often pays off: of around 5.9 million objections filed in 2024, 2.8 million led to a change — a success rate of 68%.

Crypto Gains Under Closer Watch

Since the start of 2026, surveillance of cryptocurrency transactions has tightened. The EU’s DAC8 directive requires trading platforms such as Bison, Bitpanda, Kraken, and Coinbase to report user data and transaction details to the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt).

Profits are taxable if they exceed a tax-free allowance of €1,000 per year or if assets are held for less than 12 months. Failing to self-report can result in fines of up to €50,000.

Government Unveils Tougher Anti-Fraud Plan

In mid-July, the federal government presented an action plan targeting tax crime. Proposed measures include:

• Raising the maximum prison sentence in serious cases to 15 years
• Abolishing penalty-free self-disclosure for severe tax evasion
• Mandating electronic cash registers for businesses with annual revenue above €100,000, starting in 2027 or 2028
• Deploying artificial intelligence for data analysis and creating a joint center at German Customs

The goal is to curb annual tax losses, which experts estimate at more than €100 billion. First draft laws are expected in late summer 2026.

Phishing Alert: Scammers Exploit Deadline Pressure

On July 15, the consumer protection center warned of a fresh wave of phishing emails. Fraudsters are sending fake messages claiming to be from the “Online Tax Office” or bearing the ELSTER logo. Under the guise of urgency, recipients are asked to update login credentials or confirm bank details.

Tax authorities never request sensitive data via email. Warning signs include impersonal greetings or fake sender addresses. Anyone who has already entered data should change passwords immediately and monitor bank accounts and credit cards for suspicious activity.

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