ELSTER in English — what Germany's tax portal is, and how to work around the language barrier

What ELSTER is

ELSTER is not a piece of software you buy — it is the tax administration's own electronic filing infrastructure. Businesses are legally required to file most declarations electronically (for example the VAT advance return under § 18 UStG and the corporate income tax return under § 31 KStG i.V.m. § 25 KStG), and ELSTER is the channel those filings travel through.

There are two ways to reach it: manually, by typing figures into the forms at Mein ELSTER (elster.de), or through certified software that transmits via ERiC, the official ELSTER Rich Client interface — the same channel professional tax software uses.

Is ELSTER available in English?

Partially, and not where it matters. Since 2024 parts of the Mein ELSTER portal navigation can be switched to English. The tax forms themselves — every field, every code number (Kennzahl), every help page — are German only, and for the company forms (VAT, corporate income tax, trade tax) there is no English version at all.

The English-language tax apps most expats know (for personal income tax returns) do not cover companies: a GmbH or UG files corporation tax, trade tax and VAT — categories those tools do not touch.

What your GmbH or UG must file through ELSTER

• VAT advance returns (Umsatzsteuer-Voranmeldung) — monthly or quarterly, due by the 10th after the period.
• The annual VAT return (Umsatzsteuer-Jahreserklärung) reconciling the year.
• The corporate income tax return (Körperschaftsteuererklärung) with solidarity surcharge.
• The trade tax return (Gewerbesteuererklärung) for your municipality.
• The E-Bilanz — the electronic tax balance sheet under § 5b EStG.
• Payroll tax returns (Lohnsteuer-Anmeldung), if the company has employees on payroll.

The English way through: software that speaks ELSTER for you

Our platform prepares these filings from your bookkeeping in a fully English interface and transmits supported returns electronically over the official ERiC interface — with the tax office's technical acknowledgment as proof of receipt. You review figures in English; the declaration itself goes out in the statutory German form, exactly as the law requires.

Where a case cannot be transmitted directly yet (certain special constellations are deliberately gated rather than guessed), the software says so openly and prepares every figure so you can complete the filing in Mein ELSTER — you are never left guessing which German field means what.

Do you still need an ELSTER account?

It is sensible to have one. Tax assessment notices, messages from your tax office and one-off forms arrive there, and registering costs nothing. Our registration guide walks you through creating the account and certificate in English, step by step.

For the recurring filings themselves, you will rarely open it: preparation, review and transmission happen inside the software.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an official English version of ELSTER?

Only partially. Some portal navigation has been available in English since 2024, but the tax forms, field labels and help pages are German — and the company forms (VAT, corporate income tax, trade tax) exist only in German.

Can I file my German company's taxes without speaking German?

Yes. You are allowed to file your own company's returns, and our software gives you the whole preparation and review process in English while transmitting the statutory German declaration through the official ELSTER interface.

Do I need an ELSTER certificate to use this software?

No — supported returns are transmitted through our certified channel. An ELSTER account is still worth having for assessment notices and correspondence with your tax office.

What happens when a return cannot be transmitted directly?

The software tells you openly instead of guessing. Every figure is prepared and explained so you can complete the filing in Mein ELSTER — a bounded manual step rather than a wall of German forms.

Is it legal to do this without a Steuerberater?

Yes. A company may prepare and file its own tax returns; a tax advisor is a choice, not a legal requirement. The software is self-service — it prepares and transmits your declarations but does not give individual tax advice.