Your German income tax return (Einkommensteuererklärung) for the 2026 tax year must be filed by 2 August 2027 if you do not use a tax adviser (Steuerberater). The standard deadline is 31 July 2027. Because that day is a Saturday, the deadline moves to the following Monday. If you hire a tax adviser, the deadline extends to 29 February 2028.
Short answer: Without a tax adviser, the 2026 return is due on Monday, 2 August 2027. The standard deadline of 31 July 2027 falls on a Saturday, so under section 108(3) of the German Fiscal Code (Abgabenordnung, AO) it moves to the next working day. With a tax adviser, the deadline runs until 29 February 2028. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points
- Without a tax adviser, the 2026 return must be filed by Monday, 2 August 2027.
- The standard deadline under section 149(2) AO is seven months after the end of the calendar year, which is 31 July 2027 for 2026.
- If the deadline falls on a Saturday, it moves to the next working day under section 108(3) AO.
- With a tax adviser, the deadline is 29 February 2028 (section 149(3) AO).
- The deadline for the 2025 tax year passed on 31 July 2026.
Which deadline applies to which tax year?
The filing deadline depends on the tax year the return covers and on whether a tax adviser files for you. The table below shows the deadlines that follow from the Fiscal Code, the main German tax procedure law.
| Tax year | Deadline without tax adviser | Deadline with tax adviser |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 31 July 2026 (Friday, passed) | 1 March 2027 (Monday, because 28 February 2027 is a Sunday) |
| 2026 | 2 August 2027 (Monday) | 29 February 2028 (Tuesday) |
How do you calculate the deadline yourself?
You do not need a special trick to find the deadline. The steps follow the logic of the Fiscal Code, and each one can be checked against the statute.
- Identify the tax year, which is the calendar year in which the income arose. For the 2026 return, that is 2026.
- Count seven months after the end of that calendar year. For the 2026 tax year, this gives 31 July 2027.
- Check whether the date falls on a Saturday. If it does, section 108(3) AO moves the deadline to the next working day, here 2 August 2027.
- If you hire a tax adviser, the deadline becomes the last day of February of the second following year instead, which is 29 February 2028 for 2026.
Why does the 2027 deadline fall on 2 August?
The standard deadline is a fixed calendar date. Because 31 July 2027 is a Saturday, section 108(3) AO moves the end to Monday, 2 August 2027. The rule gives no further room. If you want to be certain, file earlier and keep proof of receipt.
What does a tax adviser change about the deadline?
The extended deadline under section 149(3) AO applies only if you engage a tax adviser. It ends on the last day of February in the second year after the tax year. For 2026, that is 29 February 2028, because 2028 is a leap year. The extension is therefore not automatic and depends on the engagement. For background on deductions for students, see Tax Return for Students: How to Get Your Money Back.
Which documents do you need before the summer of 2027?
The deadline is close enough that you should sort your documents early. The following documents are relevant in most cases. The tax office decides in each individual case whether your set is complete.
- Wage tax certificates from every employer, including mini-jobs and working student contracts
- Receipts for work-related expenses such as travel, specialist books or work equipment
- Proof of training or study costs, if you want to claim them
- Certificates for investment income, for example from savings accounts or brokerage accounts
- Last year’s return, so you can compare the figures
Most returns are filed electronically through the online procedure of the tax administration. If you work with a tax adviser, you hand over the documents in one batch and agree on the deadlines together. The tax office provides the details on format and procedure.
What applies to the 2025 tax return?
The deadline for the 2025 tax year ended on 31 July 2026, a Friday. If you did not file by then, contact the tax office promptly and clarify the situation. The consequences of late filing depend on the individual case and should be discussed with the tax office. For an overview of tax-relevant points for students, see Taxes for Students: When You Pay and When You Do Not.
Frequently asked questions
When do I have to file my 2026 tax return?
Without a tax adviser, the 2026 return is due by Monday, 2 August 2027. With a tax adviser, the extended deadline is 29 February 2028. The basic deadline follows from section 149 AO, and the move to Monday follows from section 108(3) AO.
Does the deadline apply if I only have a mini-job?
Whether you are obliged to file at all depends on your income and the kind of work you do. The deadline describes when a return must arrive, provided that an obligation exists. In case of doubt, the responsible tax office gives a binding answer.
Can I get more time if I cannot meet the deadline?
An extension is not the rule. If you can see that the time will not be enough, write to the tax office early and state the reason. That is more sensible than letting the deadline pass without a word.
What changes if I hire a tax adviser?
The deadline extends to 29 February 2028. The extension depends on the engagement itself. If you are considering this, do not wait until the last month and start gathering documents early. The cost of advice depends on the engagement.
What weekday is the 2027 deadline?
31 July 2027 is a Saturday. That is why the deadline ends on Monday, 2 August 2027. If you prepare the return on the weekend, submit it on a working day so that receipt is clear.
What to do now
- Note 2 August 2027 as the filing deadline if you work without a tax adviser.
- Collect the 2026 receipts by early spring 2027 so that you are not searching in the summer.
- Decide by summer 2027 whether you file yourself or engage a tax adviser.
- Check with the tax office whether a return for the 2025 tax year is still open.
Related guides
- All 2027 tax guides at a glance: https://academycon.de/ratgeber/was-aendert-sich-2027-steuer/ (in German)
- Tax Return for Students: How to Get Your Money Back
- Taxes for Students: When You Pay and When You Do Not
- Part-Time Jobs and Taxes for Students in Germany
Sources: Fiscal Code (Abgabenordnung) section 149, gesetze-im-internet.de (in German, retrieved 2 November 2026), Fiscal Code (Abgabenordnung) section 108, gesetze-im-internet.de (in German, retrieved 2 November 2026).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
