SteuerGo FAQs

(2022) What is the difference between my tax number and the tax identification number?

The tax number should not be confused with the lifetime and nationally standardised tax identification number.

What is the tax number?

The tax number is issued by the tax office to each taxable natural or legal person and is uniquely assigned to a taxpayer. A person may have several tax numbers during their lifetime. For example, if someone moves and thus falls under the jurisdiction of a different tax office, gets married, or registers as self-employed, they will receive a new tax number.

In the past, tax numbers were based on state-specific codes and consisted of ten or eleven digits, depending on the federal state. With the introduction of the so-called ELSTER procedure (ELektronische STeuerERklärung), the standard scheme for tax numbers was standardised nationwide and now has 13 digits.

Where can I find the tax number?

After submitting the first income tax return or registering a self-employed or commercial activity, the number is determined by the relevant tax office. However, it can also be applied for independently. The tax number can be found at the top left of the income tax assessment notice.

What do I need the tax number for?

The tax number must be provided when submitting a tax return or registering a self-employed or commercial activity, as well as in payment transactions. Freelancers and traders must include it on their invoices if they do not have a VAT identification number. In the future, the tax number will be replaced by the tax identification number. However, both numbers currently exist in parallel.

What is the tax identification number?

The tax identification number (IdNr. or tax ID) has been a nationwide and permanent identification number for citizens registered in Germany for tax purposes since 2008. It is valid for life. Children receive it shortly after birth.

The identification number does not change when moving house or changing the responsible tax office. The data is deleted only when it is no longer needed by the authorities, but no later than 20 years after the taxpayer's death.

The tax ID is also required for child benefit, exemption orders for all bank accounts in Germany, the granting of the care allowance, and the tax deduction for maintenance payments, and is increasingly being requested.