Navigation

zur Suche

You are here:

Where to find answers to your questions

Do you have any questions? See the FAQs, links and contact information below.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find information on the inflation compensation bonus?
Our FAQs (in German) on the inflation compensation bonus (Inflationsausgleichprämie) pursuant to section 3 no 11c of the Income Tax Act (Einkommensteuergesetz) provide information on the bonus to mitigate rising costs caused by inflation. Please note that employers are not obliged to pay an inflation compensation bonus.
Where can I find information on the energy price allowance?
You can find information (in German) about relief to help private households cope with rising energy prices here. If you cannot find the information you are looking for, please contact your local tax office or the highest Land revenue authority (Landesfinanzministerium). The Federal Ministry of Finance is unable, to provide any legal information concerning individual cases.
How do I obtain pandemic-related assistance?

You can find comprehensive information about this topic on www.ueberbrueckungshilfe-unternehmen.de (in German), which has all the necessary contact forms and hotline information.

How do I get information about my tax assessment notice?

The Federal Ministry of Finance is not permitted to provide legal information concerning individual cases, nor may it give legal or tax advice. Your tax office or the competent highest Land revenue authority is responsible for assessing individual tax cases and for answering questions relating to your personal tax situation. You can find the contact details of the Land finance ministries and tax offices here (in German).

You can find information and forms for the ELSTER tax portal here (in German).

If your question relates to the customs administration, please contact your local main customs office or the Central Customs Authority. You can find their contact details here.

How do I obtain my tax identification number?
You can find information about obtaining a tax identification number, including contact details, here.
How do I obtain certification that I have been registered as a taxpayer?
Please apply to the tax office that is responsible for you if you require certification of registration as a taxpayer (business). For businesses whose domicile, registered office or place of management is located outside Germany, the VAT Competency Ordinance (Umsatzsteuerzuständigkeitsverordnung) states which tax office is responsible for them. You can find the contact details of the Land finance ministries and tax offices here (in German).
What are double taxation agreements?
Germany has concluded bilateral double taxation agreements (DTAs) with over 90 countries. These were concluded to prevent employees (taxpayers) from being taxed twice, among other reasons. Employees that live in Germany but work in a country with which Germany has a DTA generally pay tax on their wages in the country where they work. The same applies to foreign nationals who work in Germany. You can find further information here (in German).
Who can I contact about motor vehicle tax?
Across Germany, the main customs offices are responsible for assessing and collecting motor vehicle tax. You should contact them directly if you have questions about a specific tax situation. You can find contact details for questions relating to motor vehicle tax here (in German).

You can also find answers to frequently asked questions on various topics here.

to the top

Current information

  • Unfortunately, the Federal Ministry of Finance is unable, to provide any legal advice on the energy price allowance in individual cases. If you cannot find the information you are looking for in the FAQs, which were compiled together with the Länder, please contact your local tax office or the highest Land revenue authority (Landesfinanzamt).
  • You can find more information (in German) on the new property tax in our FAQs and at www.grundsteuerreform.de. For straightforward cases in Länder that use the federal model (Bundesmodell) to calculate property tax, a simplified online procedure for submitting property tax returns is available at www.grundsteuererklaerung-fuer-privateigentum.de. Please note that the Federal Ministry of Finance is unable to provide information concerning individual cases due to different rules in individual Länder.

to the top

Police warning

  • Fake email promoting EU funding programme


    According to an announcement by the Lower Saxony Criminal Police Office, a fake email is currently in circulation claiming to be from the Federal Ministry of Finance. The email describes a pilot funding programme “NextGenerationEU” which it claims can protect assets from inflation.

    • The link in the email takes the recipient to a fake website that looks like the real Federal Ministry of Finance website. Here the recipient is asked to enter personal information.

    • Recipients who have entered information on the fake website should contact their local police station. Furthermore, they should not react to follow-up phone calls or emails, or open any files that they receive subsequently.

    • You can find more detailed information (in German) in the report by the Lower Saxony Criminal Police Office

  • General warning from the police: Increasingly, there are reports of fraudsters trying to request fees in return for a fake service (for example, a supposed inheritance) using the name of the Federal Ministry of Finance. Please pay close attention to the following information if you appear to have received a communication from the Federal Ministry of Finance:

    • We will always address you directly by name.

    • The Federal Ministry of Finance does not send text messages or WhatsApp messages.

    • If you are unsure, please contact us or your local police station.

    • The Federal Office for Information Security also provides information (in German) on the subject of “smishing” (text message phishing)and the latest scams and how to recognise phishing emails. You can find current warnings and news for consumers regarding banks, financial services providers and insurance companies on this webpage provided by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).

You can find more information in our newsletter (in German only).

Content-related sites

Brochures

The Finance Ministry offers a range of brochures and publications that you can download or order.

More : Brochures

Visit us at the Ministry!

Learn more about the Ministry and its tasks and policy areas from our visitors’ service team.

More : Visit us at the Ministry!

Take a virtual tour of the Finance Ministry!

You can now take a virtual tour of the Finance Ministry’s headquarters in Berlin: the historic Detlev Rohwedder Building.

More on external page: Take a virtual tour of the Finance Ministry!

to the top

Working at the Ministry

Are you interested in doing an internship or traineeship at the Federal Ministry of Finance? Discover the many career opportunities at the Finance Ministry here (in German only).

to the top

Contact us directly

Feel free to use our contact form to contact us directly. Like you, we appreciate communication that is friendly and respectful. We do not process enquiries that contain insults, vulgar words or expressions of hate.

Due to the high volume of communications we receive, it can take up to four weeks for us to process your enquiry.

You can access the contact form here.

to the top

Requests for information under the German Freedom of Information Act

Under the Freedom of Information Act (Informationsfreiheitsgesetz), everybody is entitled to access official information held by federal authorities.
Further information (in German) and contact details can be found here: Freedom of Information Act.

Addresses

Berlin office

Federal Ministry of Finance
Wilhelmstrasse 97
10117 Berlin, Germany
Postal address:
11016 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0)3018 / 682 – 0
Fax: +49 (0)3018 / 682 - 32 60
E-Mail: poststelle(at)bmf.bund.de
De-Mail: poststelle(at)de-mail.bmf.bund.de

Directions to the Berlin office of the Federal Ministry of Finance

Bonn office

Federal Ministry of Finance
Am Propsthof 78a
53121 Bonn, Germany
Postal address:
Postfach 1308
53003 Bonn, Germany
Tel.: 03018 / 682 - 0
Fax: 03018 / 682 - 44 20

Directions to the Bonn offices of the Federal Ministry of Finance