Waiting times for tax assessments: federal states in comparison

Waiting times for tax assessments: federal states in comparison

The processing times for tax returns vary significantly depending on the federal state, as a current analysis shows. On average, the waiting time for the tax assessment for the 2022 assessment year is between 39 and 54 days. Berlin has the shortest processing time with an average of 39 days, followed by Hamburg with 41.8 days and Thuringia with 43.2 days.

Bremen recorded the longest processing time at 53.8 days, while Baden-Württemberg and Lower Saxony brought up the rear with 54 days each. Interestingly, data was missing for North Rhine-Westphalia, meaning no analysis could be carried out for this federal state.

It has been found that freelancers and self-employed people generally wait longer for their tax assessment than employees because their tax returns are usually more complex. It is therefore advisable to start preparing your tax return in good time in order to avoid possible errors and not to waste tax advantages.

This year the deadline for submitting tax returns is September 2nd. Even though preparing the tax return can be time-consuming, it is usually worth it, as an average refund of around 1,095 euros can be expected. It is important to carefully provide all the required information so as not to miss out on potential tax benefits.