Tax return 2024: The final deadline is approaching! Don't miss the punishment!

Tax return 2024: The final deadline is approaching! Don't miss the punishment!

Employees who file their tax return for 2024 independently have until July 31, 2025 to submit their documents to the tax office. This deadline only applies to self-filers who do not seek help from a tax advisor or income tax assistance association. Anyone who decides to seek professional support has until April 30, 2026 to submit a declaration as to how mgp-steuerberater.de reported.

Failure to do so can have serious financial consequences. From May 1, 2026, a late payment surcharge of at least 25 euros per month will be due if the submission deadline is not met. The tax office can also impose further sanctions, ranging from penalty payments to the tax assessment by the authority. Late payment interest will also be due from June 1, 2026 if deadlines are missed.

Who is obliged to submit?

There are specific requirements under which circumstances taxpayers are required to submit a tax return. These include employees with additional income of over 410 euros per year, people who receive wage replacement benefits such as parental allowance or sick pay, and those with several simultaneous employment relationships. Pensioners whose taxable income exceeds the basic allowance must also submit a tax return nord24.de supplemented.

An extension of the deadline until September 30, 2025 can be requested under certain circumstances, such as illness or missing documents. The application must be submitted in writing and with a comprehensible justification. The decision about the extension is at the discretion of the tax office; there is no legal right to it.

Voluntary submission and time frame

Voluntary tax returns can be filed within four years of the applicable tax year, with the deadline for the 2024 tax year being December 31, 2028. It is also recommended for self-filers to submit the declaration via electronic portals such as “Mein Elster” or via tax software in order to make the process easier.

Knowledge of these deadlines and rules is essential for employees and taxpayers in order to avoid financial disadvantages due to missed deadlines and to report them to the tax office in a timely manner.