2026 ELSTER update will auto-fill German tax declarations

An auto-fill update coming to ELSTER, Germany’s online tax declaration portal, means that it should soon be easier and quicker to file your annual declaration (Steuererklärung).

Finanzamt announces ELSTER auto-fill update

The German tax office (Finanzamt) has announced an update planned for its tax declaration portal, ELSTER. From mid-2026, the system will remember details which people have submitted in previous declarations and auto-fill these details in their latest declaration.

For example, if you submit your 2023 declaration online and give ELSTER permission to save your information, when you return to submit your 2024 declaration the platform will auto-fill the form with the basic information you added the last time. 

Saved data could include income, investment income and insurance contributions or deductible payments. Users will be able to make amendments to the auto-fill information in case any of their details had changed since they submitted their previous declaration.

Of course, many private companies in Germany which help workers submit their tax declaration already use such systems on their platforms. The update would also largely benefit employed people, rather than freelancers, whose income and work details are much more likely to fluctuate from year to year.

ELSTER update based on Swedish tax declaration system

The planned update is based on the tax declaration system in Sweden. Every year, in March or April the Skatteverket sends a pre-filled form to everyone who must submit an annual tax declaration in Sweden.

Residents can then go online and confirm whether the information in the pre-filled form is still correct, or which amendments should be made. This means it is often possible to complete an annual declaration in just a matter of minutes, and it is rarely necessary for contracted employees to hire a tax advisor.