German Tax Refund — Claim Your Overpaid Lohnsteuer Back
German tax refund

Claim your German tax refund. Get every euro you’re owed.

If you worked in Germany and paid Lohnsteuer, there’s a strong chance you overpaid. Whether you worked in construction, agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, or any other industry — Refutax handles your entire claim with the Finanzamt so you don’t have to.

Why Germany?

Germany overtaxes foreign workers. We fix that.

Germany’s tax system assumes you will work there for the full year and taxes your income at a higher rate accordingly. But if you worked for only part of the year — which is common for seasonal, temporary, and posted workers — you’ve almost certainly paid more Lohnsteuer than you should have. On top of that, many workers miss out on deductions they’re entitled to, such as travel costs, work clothing, tools, and accommodation expenses. Refutax exists to fix this. Our German tax specialists know the system inside out and ensure you claim back every euro the Finanzamt owes you.

€2,000+ average

German tax refund per year
Our services

What you can claim back from Germany

Germany offers some of the most generous tax deductions in Europe for workers. Here are the three main ways we help you get your money back.

Lohnsteuer Refund

Your main income tax (Lohnsteuer) is often overpaid when you work in Germany for less than 12 months. We file your Einkommensteuererklärung with the Finanzamt and claim back the difference. This typically ranges from €800 to €3,000+ depending on your income and duration of work.

Kindergeld (Child Benefits)

If you have children — even if they live in your home country — you may be entitled to Kindergeld. This is up to €250 per child per month, and can be claimed retroactively for past years. We handle the entire application with the Familienkasse on your behalf.

Work-Related Deductions

Beyond the basic tax refund, we claim deductions for: travel costs to and from your home country, accommodation near your workplace, work clothing and safety equipment, tools and professional supplies, and double household costs (doppelte Haushaltsführung). These deductions alone can add €500–€1,500 to your total refund.

Why thousands of workers trust Refutax for their German tax refund.
  • We know the German Finanzamt system — our experts file hundreds of claims every year
  • Personal phone support in your language
  • No refund, no fee — you only pay when the money is in your account
  • Claim refunds for up to 4 previous years — don’t leave money with the Finanzamt
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Stats

12K+

Services Offered

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Avegare Refund

€2,000

Average refund per client per year

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Succes

98%

Successful claims filed

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Docs

< 48h

From documents to filing

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Years

4 years

Of past taxes you can still claim

Who can claim a German tax refund?

You are most likely eligible if any of the following apply:

  • You worked in Germany for less than 12 months in a tax year
  • You were a seasonal or temporary worker (construction, agriculture, manufacturing, logistics)
  • You were posted to Germany by a foreign employer
  • You had Tax Class 1 (Steuerklasse I) — the most common for foreign workers
  • You paid Lohnsteuer, Solidaritätszuschlag, or Kirchensteuer
  • You have children (eligible for Kindergeld even if children live abroad)
  • You no longer live in Germany — you can still claim from your home country

Not sure? Use our free eligibility check or call us — we’ll tell you within minutes.

What documents do you need for a German tax refund?

Don’t worry if you’re missing some — our team can help you get replacements.

  • Payslips (Lohnabrechnung): Shows your income and tax withheld each month
  • Annual tax statement (Lohnsteuerbescheinigung): Year-end summary from employer — most important document
  • Tax ID (Steuerliche Identifikationsnummer): Your 11-digit German tax number
  • ID or passport (Personalausweis/Reisepass): Proof of identity for the Finanzamt

How long does a German tax refund take?

  • Your application: 5 minutes
  • Our review & filing: 1–2 business days
  • Finanzamt processing: 6–12 weeks (varies by region)
  • Refund to your bank: 1–2 weeks after approval

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about getting your tax refund.

Yes, absolutely. You do not need to be in Germany to claim your refund. Refutax handles everything remotely — we file with the Finanzamt on your behalf, and the refund is sent directly to your bank account anywhere in the world.

You can claim for the past 4 years. In 2025, you can still file for 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. We recommend claiming all years at once — clients often receive €3,000–€5,000+ for multiple years.

Lohnsteuer is German income tax deducted from wages monthly. It’s calculated as if you’ll work the full year. If you worked 6–8 months, you were taxed too high for your actual annual income. The difference is your refund.

Kindergeld is German child benefits — up to €250/child/month. If you worked in Germany and have children under 18 (or under 25 if studying), you may be eligible even if children live in your home country. We handle the Familienkasse application.

Yes. We can often work with monthly payslips instead, or request a duplicate from your employer or the Finanzamt. Contact us and we’ll help you find the best solution.

Common deductions: travel expenses (flights, fuel, tolls), accommodation near workplace, work clothing and safety equipment, tools, double household costs (doppelte Haushaltsführung), insurance contributions, and moving expenses. Our experts check all of these to maximize your refund.

No. The Finanzamt can transfer to any EU bank account (IBAN). For non-EU accounts, we can discuss alternatives. Most clients receive refunds in their home country bank.

Ready to claim your German tax refund ?

Start your free application today. It takes less than 5 minutes, and you’ll know within 48 hours if you’re eligible for a refund.
  • Zero Fees
  • Free Application
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