Tax return: The deadline for submission is October – what you need to consider now

Created: 05/10/2022, 21:48

By: Lisa Mayerhofer

This year, the tax return does not have to be submitted until the end of October.

But who is obliged to do this?

A current overview.

Berlin – The deadline on October 31 is not only for the submission of the property tax return.

Those affected also have until this date to submit the 2021 tax return.

This means that anyone who has been putting off the tiresome topic should now slowly get going.

The most important questions and answers:

What are the deadlines for the 2021 tax return?

This year there is more time for the tax return – it should be submitted by October 31st instead of July 31st.

If you get help from a tax consultant or an income tax assistance association, the submission deadline for 2021 is even extended to August 31, 2023.

However, don't miss the deadlines.

Christina Georgiadis from the United Income Tax Assistance Association warns: "When the submission deadline has expired, 0.25 percent of the assessed tax is due in addition to the tax for each month started, but at least 25 euros.

This means that if you return a month and a day later, for example, you already pay 0.5 percent or at least 50 euros more.”

Who is required to file a tax return?

Not everyone is required to file a tax return.

Many employees have already settled their tax liability through the monthly income tax deduction.

However, you can voluntarily file a tax return, which is financially worthwhile in many cases.

The following applies to Bafög recipients: keep your eyes open when filing your tax return.

Because there are some peculiarities here.

© Christin Klose/dpa-tmn

There is a tax obligation for people who have income from a non-employee relationship - such as the self-employed, traders or farmers.

This tax liability occurs when the total income is above the basic tax-free allowance.

For 2021 the amount is 9,744 euros, for a married couple filing jointly it is 19,488 euros.

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What about pensioners?

Pensioners are also obliged to submit an annual income tax return if the taxable income exceeds the annual basic allowance (see above).

Income includes, among other things, the pension as well as income from company pensions, interest or rental.

However, part of the statutory pension remains tax-free – depending on when the pension begins.

Which tools can help with the tax return?

The tax return can be filled out digitally on the Elster online platform.

However, apps and programs for a tax return can also be of great help to non-professionals – they often offer additional tips to get a bigger payout.

What documents do I need for the tax return?

This can vary greatly depending on your personal situation.

In most cases you need the income tax assessment for the previous year, bank statements, wage tax certificates and proof of insurance.

In addition, there are then, among other things, receipts for income-related expenses such as travel expenses or work rooms as well as receipts for income such as from a rental.

This list can be extended by a few points - depending on how much you have to start or how much you can deduct.

If you are unsure, a tax consultant or the income tax assistance association can help you.

Tax return 2021: What are the current changes?

Because of the corona pandemic, there are some new tax breaks for 2021.

Georgiadis explains this using the example of working from home and the commuter allowance: "If you don't have your own office at home, but were in the home office, you can still claim 5 euros a day for tax purposes for up to 120 days.

Then there is the commuter allowance for the days on which you drove to work.

The commuter allowance was recently increased for longer commutes and also applies to carpooling.

For a one-way trip to work up to 20 kilometers you can set 30 cents per kilometer, from the 21st kilometer it is even 35 cents. "