As a rule, the income tax return for 2018 must be filed with the tax office by 31 July 2019 (previously, the deadline for income tax returns was 31 May of the following year).
From 2019 onwards, you will therefore have two additional months. If you are represented by a Steuerberater (German Certified Tax Advisor), the deadline is extended by a further two months, meaning that the 2018 income tax return can be filed by 29 February 2020 in that case.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
By when must the 2018 income tax return be filed?
The 2018 income tax return must generally be filed with the tax office by 31 July 2019. Starting with assessment year 2018, this represents a two-month extension compared to the previous deadline of 31 May of the following year.
By how long has the filing deadline for the income tax return been extended?
The standard filing deadline has been extended by two months. Instead of the previous deadline of 31 May of the following year, income tax returns must now be submitted by 31 July of the following year.
What deadline applies when a Steuerberater prepares the 2018 income tax return?
When represented by a Steuerberater (German Certified Tax Advisor), the filing deadline is also extended by two months. For the 2018 income tax return, this means you have until 29 February 2020 to submit it to the tax office.
From which assessment year does the extended filing deadline for income tax returns apply?
The extended filing deadline applies for the first time to the income tax return for 2018, which is due in 2019. From 2019 onwards, taxpayers therefore have two additional months to prepare and submit their return.