Tax return 2024: These are the deadlines you should know

• Mandatory filing: If you are required to file, you must submit your 2024 tax return to the tax office by July 31, 2025.
• With tax advice: If you submit your return through a tax advisor or an income tax assistance association, the deadline is automatically extended to April 30, 2026.
• Voluntary submission: You can voluntarily submit your tax return retroactively for up to four years. That means for 2024, you have until December 31, 2028.

Important to keep mind: Anyone who misses the deadline must expect to pay late fees. So it’s worth getting started early.

Not everyone is obligated to do this – but for many it is worthwhile. You are required to file when, for example:

• you had additional income alongside your main job (for example, from self-employment or rent),
• you have received wage replacement benefits such as parental or unemployment benefits,
• you and your partner have selected the tax class combination III/V or IV with a factor,
• you had several employers at the same time.

Even if you are not required to file a tax return, submitting a voluntary tax return for 2024 is worth your time – especially if you can expect a refund. This is often the case when:

• you only worked part of the year in 2024 (for example, due to a change in job, studies or parental leave),
• you had high advertising expenses that were above the standard deduction (for example, for commuting, continuing education or home office),
• you can claim special expenses or extraordinary expenses (for example, donations, medical expenses),
• you had a tax-exempt amount on your income tax card,
• or you paid income tax but earned little (for example, as a working student or working a mini job with tax class I).

The good news is that You have four years to file your voluntary tax return for 2024 – the deadline is December 31. 2028. The sooner you submit it, the sooner you can expect a potential refund.

Even though we, as BBVA Germany, have only recently entered the German market and cannot yet provide any tax-relevant documents for the 2024 tax year, we would like to help you keep track of your finances – because that's half the battle when it comes to filing your tax return.

For future tax years, you will find, for example, the following documents:

• monthly bank statements
• annual statement of fees
• Annual tax certificate (a certificate summarizing all capital gains at BBVA that are relevant for tax purposes)

When preparing your tax return, it helps to organize some things early – even if you don't file them until later. Here are a few practical tips:

• Have your tax ID ready: You will need your personal tax identification number right from the start – for example, to register with ELSTER or a tax app. You can find it on your income tax certificate or in previous tax assessments. 
• Collect receipts: These include, for example: Proof of advertising expenses, donations, insurance, or tradesperson services.