Germany | NeoTax

Get your

Tax refund in Germany

Claim your tax refund by filing your tax return with us. Use our other services such as child benefits or pension contributions refund.

File with tax specialist or Start now in online app

Get your

Child benefits (Kindergeld)

Receive your child benefits from Germany for up to 6 months back.

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Lohnsteuerbescheinigung, EWR and other forms

Replacing documents

Get all the documents necessary to file a tax return.

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Apply for Rentenversicherung

Pension contribution refund

Claim back the money you have paid to the pension contribution fund in Germany.

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Pension contribution refund - Rentenversicherung in Germany

WE WILL PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL

Consultation and guidance

Tax consultation on a specific issue.

Tax return

Child benefits

Replacing documents

Pension contribution refund

Consultation and guidance

Our services in Germany

Tax return online

File your taxes in our simple application and get a tax return with detailed instructions.

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Tax return with a specialist

File your tax return with one of our experts.

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Child benefits - Kindergeld

Receive your child benefits for up to 6 months back.

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Pension contribution refund - Rentenversicherung

Claim back the money you have paid to the pension contribution fund in Germany.

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Replacing documents

Do you not have all the documents necessary to file a tax return?

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Consultation and guidance

We will resolve your tax questions and design a comprehensive solution tailored to your needs.

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Tax calculator

Calculate how much you can get back in taxes from Germany. Simply in an online calculator.

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Property Rental Tax return

Fill in our simple form to order selected service. Our tax specialists will guide you through the process.

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Property Sales Tax return

Fill in our simple form to order selected service. Our tax specialists will guide you through the process.

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Tell us more about your situation and we will recommend you the best solution

Pricelist

See the pricelist where are listed all our services.

Spouses can file a joint tax return and potentially get a higher refund.

Basic
Do-it-yourself tax return

€ 19 / tax year

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- Fill out our simple application
- You will get a tax return
- You send it to the tax office
- Learn more about tax return online
Consulting
and guidance

from € 25

Order here
- You fill in the form and describe your problem
- Based on the complexity, we will price the consultation
- After the consultation, you will receive a written opinion on your problem
- Learn more about consultation and guidance
Most Popular

Premium
Taxes with a specialist

€ 39 / tax year + 9% from refund

Order here
- You don't have to pay anything in advance*
- Answer a few questions in our simple application
- We process your tax return and send it to the tax office
- We represent you in front of the tax office
- Customer support
- Personal tax specialist
- Learn more about tax return with a specialist
- * the minimum fee is EUR 89
VIP
Taxes with a specialist

€ 480 / tax year

Order here
- Answer a few questions in our simple application
- We process your tax return and send it to the tax office
- We represent you in front of the tax office
- Customer support
- Priority processing by our team
- Personal tax specialist
- We try to obtain all necessary documents for you
- Learn more about tax return with a specialist

Packages	Basic	Premium	VIP
Simple online appliaction
Tax return filing done by us
Tax specialist assistance
Customer support included in price
Tax office representation
More services without an additional fee
Priority processing
Price deducted from your refund

Consultation
and guidance

from € 25

Order here
- You fill in the form and describe your problem
- Based on the complexity, we will price the consultation
- After the consultation, you will receive a written opinion on your problem
- Learn more about consultation and guidance

Child benefits
Kindergeld

€ 49 / tax year + 9% from refund

Start now
- You don't have to pay anything in advance
- We represent you in front of the tax office
- We provide you with complete assistance
- Learn more about child benefits - Kindergeld

Pension contributions refund

€ 199 / tax year + 20% from refund

Start now
- You don't have to pay anything in advance
- We represent you in front of the tax office
- We provide you with complete assistance
- Learn more about pension contributions refund

Replacing missing documents

€ 35 / document

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- You don't have to pay anything in advance
- We will try to obtain documents for you
- We provide you with complete assistance
- Learn more about replacing documents
Standard forms for social security rights

from € 50 / document

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- We will try to obtain documents for you
- We provide you with complete assistance
- Obtaining the S1 form: 50 EUR
- Obtaining the U1 form: 60 EUR
- Learn more about replacing documents

Property Rental
Tax Return

from€ 49 including VAT

Start now
- Fill in the form and describe your problem
- We will price the consultation according to the complexity of your situation
- After the consultation you will receive a written statement on your problem
- Learn more about Property Income Tax

Property Sales
Tax Return

from€ 49 including VAT

Start now
- Fill in the form and describe your situation
- We will price your tax return according to the complexity
- After payment, you will receive a finished property sales tax return
- Learn more about Property Sales Tax Return

We tailor our services to fit your specific needs

Customer support

Contact our customer support or message our chatbot which is available 24/7.

Online tax filling

Our easy online applications help you do your taxes completely on your own.

Tax specialits

In case you need assistance, our tax specialists file your tax return for you.

Personal account

You can view your order status in your personal account.

Check out most frequently asked questions

Germany

Child benefits

Consultation and guidance

L1i form

Neoportal

Other services

Pacht

Pension contributions refund

Property sales tax return

Replacing documents

Tax calculator

Tax deferral

Tax return

VAT compliance and registration

VAT for Amazon sellers

VAT refund for business travelers

VAT refund for transport

All

What is a „child benefit“?

Child benefit is money granted to parents for their children, regardless whether the parent is in employment or the income level.

How much money can you get?

Child benefits have increased to €250 a month per child from January 2023.

Can you get child benefits from your home country and abroad at the same time?

Yes, you can be receiving the child benefits in your home country and also apply for them abroad. The benefits from foreign country will be calculated in such a way that the final sum of the benefits from both countries will be equal to the maximum amount in foreign country.

What is the maximum age of a child?

Maximum age is 18, though it can continue until they are 25 if they are still in school.

Who can get child benefits from Germany?

All citizens of European Union, Switzerland, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Algeria, Kosovo, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey. Parents are entitled to family allowance if their centre of life is in Germany and their child (which can also be an adopted child, a foster child, a stepchild) lives together with them in the same household.

Which parent can apply for child benefits?

Basically, there might be these situations:
- if you are married, any of you - parents can apply for this benefit,
- if you are not married or divorced, only the mother can apply,
- if you are divorced AND the child is living with the father (father is the only legal guardian), only the father can apply.

How do you prove where your child is living?

If your family lives in another country (as long as you live and work abroad), you will need to prove your marital status (e.g. that you are not divorced and the child does not live with the mother alone) and the address where the child lives. This status was proved through the E401 form. Now you do not need to provide this document, the tax office will check the situation on its own.

What if your permanent residency address in your home country is different from your spouse?

The E401 form was used to provide the address. Now you will no longer need this form.

What if you live and work abroad and your family is in another country?

You can apply even in this case. You will need to prove that you are actually living in a foreign country. To prove that you live abroad, you need to submit confirmation that you are registered temporarily in this specific country. This confirmation is issued by the city hall. You should be registered from the beginning of your foreign stay.

How do you prove that you lived abroad, if you were not registered there?

In case you did not register at the foreign country, after you arrived to live and work there, you would need to prove your stay with bills related to it. This can be: rental contract, utility bills, such as by electricity/gas company.

How many years back can I apply for child benefits?

You can apply 6 months back.

Is there a deadline during the year to apply?

No, you can apply anytime of the year, even if you are still living in the country and plan to live there further.

What is the minimum amount of months to apply?

The minimum is one month and it is calculated as the entire month. For example, if you arrived in the country in mid November, you can apply for that given year from December 1st.

How is the sum of child benefits calculated?

We apply for child benefits in foreign country's office. The office sends confirmation letter by mail, stating the amount of money to be paid.

How long does it take to get child benefits?

It takes from 6 to 9 months on average.

What is the fee for the service?

There is a flat rate of 99 EUR + 9 % from the total amount you receive. It is payable, when the amount of child benefit is received.

Do you also offer personal consultations?

Depending on the nature and complexity of the question, we also offer online and in-person consultations. We will offer you the options after evaluation of the question by our tax expert.

How does the consultation work?

You fill out a questionnaire with your question. On the basis of this, our tax expert will estimate the service and offer you the method and options for the consultation. After payment of the fee, you are provided with a consultation either in writing or in the form of an online or in-person consultation.

What should I do if I have further questions during the consultation? Is there an extra charge?

It depends on the nature of the additional questions. Questions directly related to the initial question and the explanation of the whole situation are not charged anew. More complex additional questions are priced separately.

In what language do you offer consultations?

We offer consultations and advice in the following languages:

- English,
- Czech,
- Ukrainian,
- Russian.

What are the taxes on rental income?

Taxes on rental income can vary because the personal income tax rate you pay on other income also applies. In the lowest case, this is currently 14 % ‑ the so-called input tax rate. From this 14 %, the tax rate progressively increases with increasing taxable income up to the highest tax rate of 42 %.

What are the differences between short term and conventional rentals?

The biggest difference between short-term rentals and classic rentals is the rental period. Short term landlords can rent their property for a maximum of 6 months, with classic rentals the contract is for a minimum of 15 months depending on the type of contract. The duration of a short-term lease is usually a few days to a few weeks, but always less than 6 months.

What is a PACHT lease agreement?

A 5 year PACHT lease is a long-term lease. The tax will be determined individually, so the type of contract does not matter.

Who is not liable to tax on income from rental property in Germany?

If parts of an owner-occupied flat, an owner-occupied family house or another house used by the taxpayer as a whole are temporarily rented out and the income from this does not exceed 520 € in the tax year, the taxation of the income can be waived with the taxpayer's consent for the reason of simplification.

Which expenses related to income can landlords deduct?

The most common deductible expenses related to rental property include:

property tax,
loan costs,
accounting costs,
costs of repairs and renovations to the property, travel costs,
insurance,
costs of operation of the property,
financing costs (e.g., appraisal, notary, land registry fees),
advertising costs,
street cleaning, garbage collection, etc.,
debt interest on rental property financing,
building depreciation.

When is the deadline for filing a tax return?

Everyone who is required to file a tax return must file a return for the 2022 taxable year to the tax office by September 30. If the return is completed by a tax adviser or association for income tax assistance, the deadline for filing is extended to 31. July 2024.
If you file voluntarily, you have four years to file your return with the tax authorities, i.e., until 31. December 2026 for 2022.
If you miss the deadline, you must expect a penalty from the tax office.

What happens if I don't file my tax return?

A penalty for failure to file a tax return will be assessed if you have failed to file a tax return despite a notice from the tax office.

Which documents do I need to file a tax return for rental property tax?

The following documents must be provided to file your tax return:

a questionnaire with information about the property,

ID, in case of joint filing by both spouses,

permanent residence,

worldwide income.

The purchase contract and other documents related to the property may be requested by the tax office. In such case you must provide these documents.

I worked in Germany and paid pension contributions. Can I claim it back?

Non-EU citizens can claim back their German pension contributions (about 9.5% of salary) 2 years after leaving Germany/EU if they paid into the pension funds for a period under 5 years. Only months in which a contribution was made count towards this period and only the employee contributions are refunded, not the one from employers. You should also be aware that working in other EU countries can count towards the 5 year period. EU citizens can claim their pension benefits from Germany after they reach the pension age.

What does a “pension refund” mean?

A refund means that you paid your pension contributions, and you can get it back with the conditions above. By filing a claim, you are actually reporting to the Pension office that you left Germany/EU and there is no need for them to keep your pension contributions.

Why do some agencies claim that they will refund MORE pension overpayment for you than the others?

There is no such thing as a “more refund” on your pension. Be careful, because this might be a marketing trick to attract you to sign a contract. If a tax specialist files your pension refund claim properly, according to the German pension law, the refund can be calculated in only one possible way!

What documents are required to apply?

In order to get your pension refund as quickly as possible and apply for the highest amount, you need to have:
- Lohnsteuerbescheinigung or payslip from all employment for each tax year,
- Registration and deregistration certificate from Germany (you can prove it with the stamps in your passport or with the document An- und Abmeldebescheinigung from German authorities),
- Passport.

What if you do not have all the necessary documents?

Even if you do not have all the documents mentioned above, you can still apply for your pension refund. We offer a “replacement” service - we will contact your former employer/s and will request copies of your earning documents (wage slip) as your agent.

How many years back can I claim my pension refund?

You can apply for unclaimed pension refunds back to 1995.

How long do I need to wait?

On average, it takes approximately 6 months to be processed by the German Pension Office. This is counted from the time your documents are received by the German authorities. The actual time may vary on a case by case basis.

When do I have to report the sale of property on my tax return?

For private home sellers, the profit made is taxable only under certain conditions. The so-called speculation period is intended to prevent you from buying a property with the sole purpose of reselling it at a more favourable price depending on the market situation. You will remain exempt from tax if you meet the following conditions:

you sell the property 10 years after purchase,
you sell the property less than 10 years after you bought it, but you can prove that you have used it yourself for the last three years.

If you do not qualify for the speculation period, you must declare the sale of your property on your income tax return for that year. The tax office will calculate the speculation tax accordingly, which can be up to 40% of the gain.

Which expenses can be included in the calculation of profits to reduce tax?

The following costs may be included:

commission for real estate agents both on the purchase and on the sale,
notary: internal costs and court costs (registration in the Land Registry), real estate transfer tax,
property transfer tax,
renovation works and modernisation measures during the first three years after the purchase of the property (these are acquisition costs and can be deducted from the profit),
advertising costs incurred during the sale (e.g. internet advertising or preparation of displays),
renovation work to achieve an optimal sales result.

When is the deadline for filing my tax return?

Anyone who is required to file a tax return must file a return for the 2022 tax year with the tax office by September 30.
If the return is completed by a tax adviser or income tax assistance association, the filing deadline is extended to 31 July 2024.
If you file voluntarily, you have four years to file your return with the tax office, i.e. until 31 December 2026 for the year 2022.
If you miss the deadline, you must expect a penalty from the tax office.

What happens if I don't file a tax return?

You will be fined for not filing a tax return if you have not filed a tax return despite being told to do so b the tax office.

What documents do I need to file my rental property tax return?

The property information questionnaire are required to file your tax return:

ID, in case of joint filing by both spouses,
permanent residence,
worldwide income.

The purchase contract and other documents related to the property may be requested by the tax office. In this case, you must provide these documents.

Who is this service for?

This service is intended for those, who are missing some important documents needed for processing tax forms (e.g. tax returns) in their country. Usually, it is a confirmation of taxable income from your employer.

What documents can you obtain?

We will do everything possible to obtain any documents that are important for the tax calculation. In most cases we focus on confirmation of income from your employer (Lohnsteuerbescheinigung), but we can also help you, for example, with a request for a copy of your tax return or EWR.

How do you get this document?

We contact the relevant authority or employer and try to find a way to obtain the required documents. We cannot guarantee that the document will be provided, but we will do everything we can to get it.

How long will it take?

Depending on the cooperation of the other party, this process usually takes 2 weeks, but if the other party does not cooperate, the process can be extended to several months.

What should I do if my employer no longer exists?

We can succeed in obtaining the necessary documents even in such a situation. To complete the process, we usually involve a government agency that can be helpful in many cases.

What is the Lohnsteuerbescheinigung form?

The Lohnsteuerbescheinigung is a receipt from your employer, it is a summary of your earnings and taxes withheld by your employer for the entire calendar year. All employers are required by law to issue the form by the end of February of the following year (e.g. by the end of February 2022 for the tax year 2021).

How does the calculator work?

You enter the income in the appropriate lines and the calculator calculates the preliminary result.

Is it really free?

The tax calculator is really free. If you are interested in preparing a complete return, you can use the online application where you can prepare your tax return yourself and or use a tax specialist to prepare your tax return.

Is the result final?

No, it isn't. The calculator does not calculate various tax credits, tax bonuses for children and other benefits. The resulting overpayment may be even higher.

Do I have to prepare a tax return if the calculator gives me a refund?

We cannot estimate whether you are required to file a tax return. However, if you have received a refund, we recommend that you complete your tax return in the online application and or with our help.

I worked in GERMANY and paid taxes. Should I file a tax return?

Everybody who works abroad has to pay income tax. Under certain conditions, you can receive a refund from some of the taxes you (your employer) paid. We refund tax from Germany and we can also help you get child benefit support for your children if they are younger than 18 (or 24 in case of university students). More about our child benefit service here!

When am I a tax resident in Germany and how do I find out if I am a resident? What is the difference between a resident and non-resident?

A resident of Germany generally refers to an individual who has a domicile in Germany or spends more than 6 consecutive months in Germany. A domicile is a home or dwelling owned by, or rented to, the taxpayer who has full control over the property.
A non-resident is generally someone who spends less than 6 consecutive months in Germany.

What does “tax refund” mean?

A refund means that your employer paid more taxes on your behalf than was necessary, and you can claim the excess money back. By filing a tax return, you are actually reporting to the German Tax Office how much you earned as gross income and how much you paid in taxes while you stayed in Germany.

Why do some agencies claim that they will refund MORE tax overpayment for you than the others?

There is no such a thing as “more refund” on your taxes. Be careful, because this might be a marketing trick to attract you to sign a contract.
If a tax specialist does your tax return properly, according to the German tax law, the refund can be calculated in only one possible way! If an agency applies tax deductions that you are NOT entitled to, your refund will increase on one hand, but you are at a very high risk that you will have to pay it back to the Tax Office.

How much taxes are paid from your income?

Taxation is progressive on the individual's income in Germany. In other words, the more you earn, the more you pay.
German tax rates for individuals were between 14% and 45% in 2021.

What documents do you need for your tax refund?

In order to receive your income tax refund as quickly as possible and to apply for the highest amount, you need t have:
- A copy of your Lohnsteuerbescheinigung form from each of your employers;
- Certified EU/EWR Bescheinigung form which proves your local income from your home country.

What is a Lohnsteuerbescheinigung form?

Lohnsteuerbescheinigung is a summary of earnings and deducted taxes by an employer during a calendar year. All employers are legally obliged to issue the form by the end of February of the following year (for example, by the end of February 2022 for fiscal year 2021).

What if you do not have all the necessary documents?

Even if you do not have all of the documents mentioned above, you can still apply for your tax refund. We offer a “replacement” service - we will contact your former employers and will claim copies of your payment documents as your certified tax agent.

How many years back can I file my tax refund?

You can go as far back as 4 years from the year in which you apply.

How long does it take to receive my tax refund?

It may take up to 1‑6 months until you receive your income tax refund. This is counted from the time your documents are received by the tax authorities. The actual time may vary from case to case.

When is the deadline for filing the tax return?

Tax returns are due by the end of July of the following year! Please note that you may need to pay a penalty or late filing fee if you forget to file your tax return, but it may vary from case to case.

Why is your tax calculation different from the actual Tax Office calculation?

In some cases, tax officials calculate the tax on your Tax Return higher or lower than the Tax Office shows in the final calculation.
What are the most frequent causes?
- The Tax Office had different data on your record (your employer reported different data than you have on your Lohnsteuerbescheinigung),
- Your employer wrongly paid more/less than was necessary,
- You may have some debt/overpayment from previous years.

My colleague/friend worked in Germany, but he got back more money. Why? (what are the causes?)

Basically, you only get a refund if you overpaid your taxes, because the more money you make, the more tax you pay. People who overpay get refunds. If you receive less, that actually means you didn’t overpay.
Also, if you are single, you could be in a higher tax bracket than your married friends. However, if you are married and your spouse also had income in the tax year, then you could be obligated to pay more tax than your single friends. Even though two people have the same job and earn the same amount of money, their circumstances outside of work could have a huge impact on their tax refund.

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Hi, Thank you so much for your help and an outstanding job! I hope it is appreciated around the team. Have a nice evening. Natalia.

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I've filed my tax return through Neotax multiple times before. They always responded very quickly to my e‑mails and were very helpful.

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Hi, I would like to appreciate your employees. Thanks them to easily managing all the processes without any effort! They respond as soon as possible even within hours max. Sincerely yours Christina!

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Get in touch with us

Just ring us through and we will call you back as soon as possible. Usually within 24 hours.

Our operators speak English, Czech and Slovak. For assistance in other languages, contact us via e‑mail info@neotax.eu.

+420 234 261 904

Need help?

Our blog

A selection of the latest articles.

Last update: 6th Dec 2023

Germany: Confirmation of local income with EU/EEA certificate (also known as Bescheinigung EU/EWR)

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Form L16 a.k.a. Lohnzettel

Throughout the work in Austria the employer is obligated to issue the employee with a L16 form, called the Lohnzettel. What is it for and what does it contain?

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Tax refund

Taxes in your home country

VAT Services

Tax refund in Germany

Child benefits (Kindergeld)

Replacing documents

Pension contribution refund

Consultation and guidance

Our services in Germany

Tax return online

Tax return with a specialist

Child benefits - Kindergeld

Pension contribution refund - Rentenversicherung

Replacing documents

Consultation and guidance

Tax calculator

Property Rental Tax return

Property Sales Tax return

Tell us more about your situation and we will recommend you the best solution

Pricelist

We tailor our services to fit your specific needs

Customer support

Online tax filling

Tax specialits

Personal account

What is a „child benefit“?

How much money can you get?

Can you get child benefits from your home country and abroad at the same time?

What is the maximum age of a child?

Who can get child benefits from Germany?

Which parent can apply for child benefits?

How do you prove where your child is living?

What if your permanent residency address in your home country is different from your spouse?

What if you live and work abroad and your family is in another country?

How do you prove that you lived abroad, if you were not registered there?

How many years back can I apply for child benefits?

Is there a deadline during the year to apply?

What is the minimum amount of months to apply?

How is the sum of child benefits calculated?

How long does it take to get child benefits?

What is the fee for the service?

Do you also offer personal consultations?

How does the consultation work?

What should I do if I have further questions during the consultation? Is there an extra charge?

In what language do you offer consultations?

What are the taxes on rental income?

What are the differences between short term and conventional rentals?

What is a PACHT lease agreement?

Who is not liable to tax on income from rental property in Germany?

Which expenses related to income can landlords deduct?

When is the deadline for filing a tax return?

What happens if I don't file my tax return?

Which documents do I need to file a tax return for rental property tax?

I worked in Germany and paid pension contributions. Can I claim it back?

What does a “pension refund” mean?

Why do some agencies claim that they will refund MORE pension overpayment for you than the others?

What documents are required to apply?

What if you do not have all the necessary documents?

How many years back can I claim my pension refund?

How long do I need to wait?

When do I have to report the sale of property on my tax return?

Which expenses can be included in the calculation of profits to reduce tax?

When is the deadline for filing my tax return?

What happens if I don't file a tax return?

What documents do I need to file my rental property tax return?

Who is this service for?

What documents can you obtain?

How do you get this document?

How long will it take?

What should I do if my employer no longer exists?

What is the Lohnsteuerbescheinigung form?

How does the calculator work?

Is it really free?

Is the result final?

Do I have to prepare a tax return if the calculator gives me a refund?

I worked in GERMANY and paid taxes. Should I file a tax return?

When am I a tax resident in Germany and how do I find out if I am a resident? What is the difference between a resident and non-resident?

What does “tax refund” mean?

Why do some agencies claim that they will refund MORE tax overpayment for you than the others?

How much taxes are paid from your income?