2025 tax return: Deadlines, changes and important information for 2025

• Mandatory filing: If you are required to file, you must submit your 2025 tax return to the tax office by July 31, 2026.
• With tax advice: If you submit your return through a tax advisor or an income tax assistance association, the deadline is automatically extended to February 28, 2027.
• Voluntary submission: You can voluntarily submit your tax return retroactively for up to four years. That means for 2025, you have until December 31, 2029.

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

In comparison to the 2024 tax return (due in 2025), there are no fundamental changes to the deadlines:

• The deadline of July 31 remains
• Also, the extended deadline with your tax advisor again follows the normal rhythm.

This means that you finally have some security again with respect to financial planning.

Important to keep mind: No more special deadlines

The biggest change occurred last year,

• as the COVID-related deadline extensions are finally history
• The normal legal deadlines still apply.
• There are no more automatic renewals.

For 2025, this is no longer a novelty – it's the new standard. While 2024 was still kind of a transition year, a stricter application of the rules will again apply in 2025.

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 2025 is worth your time, especially if you can expect a refund. This is often the case when:

• in 2025 you only worked for part of the year (e.g. 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 2025. The deadline is December 31, 2029. 2029. The sooner you submit it, the sooner you can expect a potential refund.

As BBVA Germany, 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.
We can provide you with the following documents (for example) for the 2025 tax year:

• 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.