ELSTER: registration and certificate

In short: ELSTER is the online portal of the tax administration. For registration you give personal data and your tax ID. The activation code arrives by post, after that you download a certificate (file or security stick).

In more detail: The account is the basis for tax return, questionnaire and VAT pre-return. Anyone who has never used ELSTER should start early because the letter with the activation code takes some days up to two weeks. Alternatively there is registration with the online ID function (eID), which works without a letter.

In detail

• Registration: on elster.de choose “Register”, enter data, wait for the confirmation email.
• Activation: two codes: one by email, one by letter. Both are needed to unlock the account.
• Certificate: store it safely (password, backup). Without certificate and password you cannot log in.
• Minors: you need a tax identification number. Parents often have to help or accompany the registration.
• Security: do not share the certificate, do not write down the password and back up files in encrypted form.
• Alternative: the tax offices’ ELSTER help and consumer advice centres explain the process.

See also: Tax registration and the ELSTER questionnaire, Tax number, tax ID and business identification number