Yes, you did it after all and sent your tax to the tax office on time. But what happens once the tax return has been submitted? How does the tax office work? What are they looking for in particular? What happens if I still want or have to correct something? When will my tax assessment come out? What do you have to consider in order not to give away money? Can I protest against my tax assessment? Lots of questions, here in the blog you will find the answers – easy to understand as usual.
Finally done!
We hope, like every year, that the last ones have now submitted their tax returns. At least those who are obliged to do so and who had time until July 31 for the first time this year. Incidentally, we're not talking about the voluntary donors here, who always have a proud four years to spare. If you want to know more about the deadlines in retrospect – or preventively for the next year – then we recommend this blog post.
Error discovered - but tax return submitted
It's happened to the best. You do the tax very conscientiously - preferably with our online tax return. And yet, shortly after submission, it turns out: crap, there's a mistake in there. Because, for example, a receipt appears in the filing cabinet in the work corner, which brings tax savings. Or because you spotted a typo. You can find out when such an error can still be changed in this article.
And now? The filing also means filing a tax return, doesn't it? No, we can give the all-clear in this case. You simply correct the tax return and submit it again. And for free.
What happens to the tax return submitted to the tax office?
That's probably the 1 million euro question. Of course, there's a simple answer: it's edited. But of course, we don't mean that. When it comes to the details of these questions, the financial authorities don't allow themselves to be looked at too closely. Due to the number of tax cases, it should be clear that not every tax return is processed down to the last detail. But why is one analyzed more thoroughly, while the other is waved through at lightning speed? Let's be honest: we can't tell you. Which general algorithms apply in the tax offices - and whether there are any at all, at least we do not know.
Anyone who has ever had problems with the tax office should certainly be examined more closely.
But something can be said about the way the tax offices work. At least in North Rhine-Westphalia. The financial administration of Germany's most populous federal state announced the focus of the examination of the submitted tax returns this year. Some of this only applies to companies, many even only affect individuals and not all tax offices in NRW.
But it's always interesting, when do you ever have such insight? Here are examples that can also affect private individuals.
- "Intention to generate income": There are enough people who supposedly run a trade, but only accumulate losses - to be able to reduce the tax burden overall. Income or even profits are not planned for this "hobby".
- Special expenses: Contributions to professional pension institutions and church tax on the final withholding tax.
- Employees: distance allowance, double household management, external work.
- Rentals and leases: initial income (“first year”), maintenance expenses, and vacation rentals.
- Extraordinary burdens: Home expenses paid by relatives.
Once again: All of this only affects NRW and there, apart from the first point, often only individual tax offices. And of course, the officials will not only check these points. We also don't know what it's like in other federal states - and whether they're also following their colleagues in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Tax return submitted – when will the decision come?
We're already at the next question, which we can't answer exactly. And we get asked them again and again in a wide variety of places. How long does it take for my tax assessment to arrive – and with it, in most cases, my money as well?
Well, every year there are new lists in which tax office or in which federal state it is fastest or takes the longest. But even though these are only average numbers, it can be completely different for you of all people. Anything is possible between two weeks and a half a year. But the average is 3 months. It is best to read this article from our blog on this topic.
One more thing: the tax offices emphasize again and again that they are processed after receipt. Of course, that is often not the case. Anyone who has the prospect of a tax refund feels like waiting longer. And if you have to pay back, you will supposedly have the tax assessment notice in your mailbox after a very short time. But rather not true.
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