Verifying your identity is a crucial step to ensure that your tax return is processed correctly and securely.
This protects your personal information from unauthorized access. We aim to make sure that only you have access to your information. Moreover, by confirming your identity, we can ensure the accuracy of your details. Successful identification also helps us to meet all legal requirements, thereby contributing to the prevention of fraud and money laundering.
Content:
- What documents are accepted for identification?
- Which foreign documents are accepted?
- What types of files are accepted?
- How can I identify myself?
- What can I do if I am missing my proof of identification?
- Why is my identification being rejected?
- What should I do if my identification documents are rejected?
- What happens to my tax return if I do not identify myself?
What documents are accepted for identification?
- The back side of your valid German ID card / residence permit
- A valid foreign identification document, if it shows your full name and current address
- Your registration certificate from the registration office
- Your annual or a monthly payslip
- Your tax assessment notice from your tax office
ℹ️ In case of a name change, f.ex. due to marriage, submitting your marriage certificate as additional proof can be beneficial.
🚨 Important: The requirements for identification with the Expert Service differ. This article outlines the proofs needed for identification with the Expert Service: Which proof is accepted for my identification with the Expert Service?
Which foreign documents are accepted?
For legal reasons, we must request certain proofs for foreign documents:
- A valid identification document with your full name and current address
- A local official registration certificate from the registration office
- Your annual or a monthly payslip
- A foreign driving license, if it shows your full name and current address
- Your foreign passport, if your full name and current address are visible
- Lease / sublease agreement with your full name, current address, and signatures
- Your tax assessment notice from your tax office
ℹ️ We also accept foreign documents in another language if you currently reside abroad. If necessary, our specialists will review the document and translate it accordingly.
What types of files are accepted?
Our app is compatible with PDF, JPEG, or PNG formats. Please upload your files unencrypted to avoid potential upload issues.
It may also be helpful to try different documents and formats if you're having trouble uploading.
How can I identify myself?
Upload, review, send - it's that simple!
Open your Taxfix account and simply follow the instructions for the respective tax year.
Upload your proof of identification, making sure all information is correct and clearly legible. This speeds up the verification process.
Once you have fully uploaded your documents for identification, remember to send them.
What can I do if I am missing my proof of identification?
Please upload a document with your new, current address as soon as you have re-registered. We accept, among other things, the back side of your ID card or your new registration confirmation as proof of identity.
Why is my identification being rejected?
Your identification can be rejected for various reasons. Here are some points to consider during identification:
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The validity has expired:
Your proof of identification must be valid and current. Please pay attention to the expiry date of your documents.
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Wrong name:
The name on the document must match the name you have entered in the app. In this case, we will unlock your tax return and ask you to check and correct the personal data section.
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Wrong address:
The address on the document must match the address you provided in the app. It's important that you store the current address in the app. This also applies to tax returns for previous years. The address is used to determine your responsible tax office and to send the tax assessment notice. Please let us know if the address in the app is no longer current, so we can unlock your tax return for you and you can correct it in the personal data section.
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Typo in the address:
If there is a typo in the postal code or house number of your current address as entered in the app, it will lead to the rejection of the identification. In this case, we would unlock your tax return for correction.
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Illegible documents:
The legibility of your uploaded proof of identification is very important for us to recognize and verify them. Please ensure the file is of good quality.
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Incomplete or missing documents:
For legal reasons, we always need complete documents. Partial excerpts cannot be accepted. Please make sure to display the entire document completely. In the case of joint assessment, it's important that both partners submit their proofs in full.
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Wrong documents:
Please ensure you upload the correct identification documents. We can only accept certain proofs, which we have listed above.
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Unsupported document formats:
As mentioned above, our app can only support PDF, JPEG, or PNG formats.
What should I do if my identification documents are rejected?
Open your Taxfix account again. Typically, there will be a red marking for the respective tax year. Follow the instructions in the app to successfully complete the identification process.
Depending on the reasons for rejection mentioned above, you will either need to correct your data or upload your proof of identification.
🚨 Don't forget: Click on the "send" button afterwards to submit the re-uploaded proofs and thus your tax return to us.
These corrections are free of charge, as you only pay once per tax year with Taxfix. There will be no additional charge.
What happens to my tax return if I do not identify myself?
If you do not complete the identification successfully, it is unfortunately not possible to submit your tax return to the tax office.