If you’re an expat planning to permanently leave Germany, there’s one important step you shouldn’t overlook: your final German tax return. Whether you’ve spent a few months or several years working in Germany, you may be entitled to a significant tax refund — but only if you file correctly.
In this post, we’ll walk you through what you need to know about taxes when saying goodbye to Germany and how we can support you every step of the way.
✅ Are You Eligible for a Tax Refund?
In most cases, the answer is yes. As an employee in Germany, you’ve likely had income tax (Lohnsteuer) automatically deducted from your salary. But unless you’ve filed a full tax return, you may have overpaid — and that’s where your refund opportunity lies.
If you’re leaving Germany permanently, filing a final return allows the tax office to recalculate your liability based on your actual income for the year. Especially if your move happens mid-year, a refund is common.
💸 What Taxes Are (and Aren’t) Refundable?
- Income tax: ✔️ Potentially refundable, depending on your income and deductions.
- Church tax: ❌ If you’re not a registered church member (e.g., Hindu, Muslim, atheist), you likely weren’t liable. If mistakenly charged, a refund may be possible.
- Social security contributions: ❌ Generally non-refundable.
⏳ However, if you’re a non-EU national, such as an Indian citizen, you may apply for a partial refund of pension contributions (after 24+ months abroad).
📄 What’s Involved in the Final Tax Return?
Your final return — the “Einkommensteuererklärung” — must be filed for the year you leave. We help you:
- Collect and prepare required documents (e.g. income statements, deregistration proof)
- Identify possible deductions (e.g. relocation costs, insurance, work expenses)
- Submit your return digitally to the tax office
- Communicate with the Finanzamt on your behalf
🌍 Special Considerations for Expats
As a non-EU citizen, you’re not subject to special restrictions, but there are also no unique tax privileges. However, your departure and non-residency status may help unlock certain benefits — especially regarding pension refunds and simplified filing.
Religion also plays a role: if you’re not part of a state-recognized church, church tax doesn’t apply — but we’ll verify that this was correctly handled.
📌 Additional Exit Services We Offer
Leaving Germany often involves more than just taxes. We can also support you with:
- 🏠 Deregistration (Abmeldung) from your city office
- 💼 Pension refund applications (DRV) for eligible non-EU citizens
- 📬 Tax clearance communication with German authorities
🧾 What We Need to Get Started
To begin, we’ll send you a personalized checklist. Typically, we’ll ask for:
- Your Lohnsteuerbescheinigung (yearly income statement)
- Any relocation documentation
- A copy of your Abmeldung (if available)
From there, we handle the rest — quickly and reliably.
Checklist for the income consultation
🎯 Ready to File Your Final German Tax Return?
If you’re an expat on your way out of Germany and want to avoid leaving money on the table, we’re here to help. Our expat-focused tax return service ensures your departure is financially clean, compliant, and stress-free.
➡️ Contact us today for a personalized quote or a free initial consultation: taxreturn@steuerschroeder.de