Made in Ulm · Free beta
Your German tax return, ready in minutes and in your language
Upload your Lohnsteuerbescheinigung and the rest of your paperwork, check what we've read, then file it yourself – with our box-by-box guide for ELSTER, or with the official forms already filled in, ready to post.
How it works
Upload your documents
Your Lohnsteuerbescheinigung, payslips, receipts or your flat's Nebenkostenabrechnung, as a PDF or a photo. We work out what each one is and which year it belongs to.
Check what we read
You see every figure next to where it came from. Nothing goes into your return until you confirm it, and anything we couldn't read you simply type in.
File it with our guide or on paper
We tell you what to enter in each ELSTER box, or give you the official forms filled in, ready to sign and send to the Finanzamt.
Who it's for
For people who moved to Germany from abroad and work here as employees. Your sector or job title doesn't matter – your tax situation does.
- You have an employment contract in Germany and get a payslip.
- You'd rather deal with paperwork in English or Spanish – or want to finally understand the tax office's German.
- You've never filed a return here, or you do it every year and want it to take less time.
- You want to know what you're submitting before you sign it.
Didn't file for 2022, 2023 or 2024?
If you weren't obliged to file, you still can: you have four years, so the 2022 return can be filed until 31 December 2026. For now we prepare 2025, but you can already keep your documents for those years here.
Made in Ulm
An old Ulm legend says that, while the Minster was being built, some townspeople were heading home with a very long wooden beam lying crosswise on their cart. When they reached the gate in the city wall, it wouldn't fit through.
They were about to knock down part of the gate when someone noticed a sparrow carrying a piece of straw to its nest – not crosswise, but lengthwise. They turned the beam round, and it went straight through.
Ever since, the “Ulmer Spatz” – the Ulm sparrow – has been one of the city's best-known symbols. Exspatz was born here, and its name blends “expat” and “Spatz”. Our sparrow carries a document instead of straw, because German paperwork is a lot like that beam: approach it the right way and everything fits.
Your data in safe hands
Stored in Germany
Your data and documents are stored on servers located in Germany.
Read on our own server
We read your documents with our own software. We don't send them to outside text-recognition or AI services: they never leave our server.
Encrypted
Documents are stored encrypted, passwords only as a hash, and you can turn on two-step sign-in.
Always yours
You can download all your data and documents, or delete your account, whenever you like.
The points above describe the app (invitation-only beta). This website and the waiting list are served by Cloudflare; waiting-list sign-ups are stored in a database located in the European Union.
Free during the beta
While we're in beta, everything is free: no plans, no paid features and no card needed. The official forms and the ELSTER guide will never depend on a payment.
Frequently asked questions
Which cases do you cover today?
From start to finish, the most common case: you lived in Germany for the whole of 2025, you don't file jointly with a partner, you have no children, your only income is your salary and you had one employer. Two employers work too, with an extra review step.
What isn't covered yet?
Joint returns for married couples or registered partners, children, self-employment, rental or investment income, benefits such as unemployment benefit or Elterngeld, and salary or work from outside Germany. If that's you, we tell you at the start and explain who can help.
Can I file my return directly from Exspatz?
Not yet. Direct electronic filing will come once we have ELSTER's authorisation. Until then, we guide you box by box so you can file it yourself in Mein ELSTER, or we prepare the paper forms for you.
Will you tell me how much I'll get back?
No. We do the calculations with the official rules, but they're still being reviewed by a tax adviser, so we don't show them. Either way, the final amount is set by the Finanzamt in its assessment.
Are you tax advisers?
No. Exspatz helps you prepare and file your own return, but doesn't give personal tax advice. If your case needs it, we'll tell you.
Which languages is it in?
English, Spanish and German. ELSTER and the official forms only exist in German, so we explain every box in your language.
How much does it cost?
Nothing, for as long as the beta lasts.
Join the waiting list
We'll let you know when Exspatz opens to everyone. We'll only write to you about that and about important news.
In the meantime, you can follow us on Instagram @exspatz