Electronic tax returns: take Which software? – Verivox

dpa / tmn | 03/24/2016

 Berlin / Hamburg – Every year many people go to the tax office and get the forms for tax returns in paper form. But there is another computer. This requires a purchased software or the free program Elster financial management.

time can be saved as by the pre-filled electronic tax returns. Their basic idea is that the tax office some information, such as address, bank details or number of children present and others like income tax and health insurance are received electronically. To use it all, but you have to be registered once under Elsteronline.de and have applied for an electronic certificate.

 Missing values ​​complement

 “However, the tax authorities do not know everything”, warns Markus Fischer of the Stiftung Warentest. Therefore, no one should simply hand the pre-filled statement, but to supplement it by the information, allow easy save taxes. “These are, for example, travel costs, expenses for child care or craftsmen.”

 Who uses the software of financial management “needs to know where the information to be made,” explains Fischer. “Elster does not help one in the tax return, whereas commercial software has this claim.” As with the help apps insist their basic idea is, the user to ask the right questions.

 Elster leaves something away

 That this difference money can cost, is an attempt by the “Computer Bild” (issue 6/16): reader sat under the supervision of the computer and entered their tax data. “Allen reckoned Elster a lower tax refund than the commercial programs” summarizes “Computer Bild” editor André Hesel together the result. Another Magpie criticism: “Some data has been entered incorrectly due to lack of user guidance.” not Elster

– In addition, buying programs experienced Packages about checking account out.
 “Elster is not intuitive to use,” confirms “financial test” expert fisherman. Who is but already become sooner finished the forms come with Elster clearly and save time and paper. So fewer documents must be sent to the authority about transmission by electronic means. And if the digital statement has arrived in time to the tax office server, missing documents may also be submitted later.

 Fill out and send by post will also

 Who’s afraid to bring electronic perhaps rashly false information on the way, can the filled with control software forms continue to print, read exactly once sleep on it and even proposed still personally at the tax office.

 Both can also be combined, explains André Hesel. The data could be sent digitally to the tax office without a certificate, and a compressed tax return on paper, we then refilled. However, in this case, not the electronic submission, but the receipt of the paper declaration to the tax office is crucial for the deadline.

 Accountants Commercial irreplaceable

On the skills of an accountant is the opinion of fishermen and Hesel not approach even the best software. Worthwhile the Consult the professionals is especially true when it comes to commercial or self-employment. Many homeowners who feed with a photovoltaic system power, is about not aware that this meant business income, says Anne Kathrin Wernsdorf, Speaker in Steuerberaterverband. And self-employed offers an accountant addition business advice.

 Wage tax clubs for workers

 “However, is considered by many workers that a tax advisor about the amount costs, he saves” says editor Hesel. “Anyone who is unsure what he is doing and write in need, can also contact a Lohnsteuerhilfeverein” adds Fischer. United are the two in another point: It is worthwhile almost always to make a tax return. For those who have it not yet convinced Fischer has a peace of mind: “If you voluntarily file a tax return, and there is still a payment, you can even withdraw.”

More news from 24.03 .2016