German Tax ID: how newcomers receive their Steuer-ID

Who this guide is for

• Newcomers who have just registered an address and are waiting for their tax number.
• Employees whose employer is asking for a Steuer-ID before the first payroll run.
• People who lost the original letter and need the number again.
• Freelancers who are unsure which of the German tax numbers applies to them.

What you need

• A completed address registration (Anmeldung) at your local registration office.
• A working postal address and a correctly labelled letterbox with your surname on it.
• Your personal details exactly as registered — mismatched spellings cause delays.
• Patience: the number is issued automatically, not on request.

Step-by-step process

1. 01

   Register your address

   The tax ID process starts with Anmeldung. The registration office passes your data to the Federal Central Tax Office, which assigns the number. If you have not registered yet, nothing else on this page will happen.

2. 02

   Wait for the letter

   The Steuer-ID arrives by post at your registered address, usually within a few weeks of registration. It comes from the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) and looks unremarkable, so do not throw away plain official envelopes in your first month.

3. 03

   Give the number to your employer

   Your employer needs your Steuer-ID, your date of birth and your insurance details to run payroll under the correct tax class. Without it, payroll may be processed at a less favourable default, which you get back later through your tax return but not in your first payslip. This is one of several tasks that follow registration — see what happens after Anmeldung for the full sequence.

4. 04

   Store it where you can find it

   Save a photo of the letter and note the number in your password manager or document folder. You will need it for employment, tax returns, child benefit, bank interest reporting and many official forms.

5. 05

   If the letter does not arrive, request the number again

   The Federal Central Tax Office can send you the number again in writing. The re-notification is sent by post to your registered address, not by email or phone, because the number is personal data. Check that your name is on the letterbox before assuming the letter was lost.

Documents checklist

• Registration confirmation (Meldebestätigung) from your Anmeldung
• The BZSt notification letter containing your eleven-digit Steuer-ID
• Passport or ID card, if you need to prove your identity in a written request
• Your employer's onboarding form, which normally asks for the number, your birth date and insurance details
• Previous Lohnsteuerbescheinigung or Steuerbescheid, if you already worked in Germany

Common mistakes

• Trying to apply for a Steuer-ID before registering an address — the number follows registration, not a request.
• Confusing the lifelong personal Steuer-ID with a freelance or business Steuernummer.
• Applying for a VAT ID when the employer actually asked for the personal tax ID.
• Missing the letter because the surname is not on the letterbox, especially in shared flats.
• Expecting the number by email or phone — re-notifications are sent by post for data protection reasons.
• Assuming a new number is issued after moving. The Steuer-ID never changes, even if you move or leave Germany and return.

What happens next

• Give the number to your employer so your payroll runs under the correct tax class.
• Check your first payslip and, if the tax class looks wrong, ask payroll to correct it.
• Keep the number available for your first German tax return.
• If you become self-employed, register the activity with your local Finanzamt, which then issues a separate Steuernummer — see the freelancing in Germany guide for the full registration process.
• Apply for a VAT ID only if you actually invoice inside the EU as a business.

How Burokrat helps

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to apply for a German Tax ID?

No. It is assigned automatically after you register your address in Germany, and the letter arrives by post within a few weeks.

How long does the Steuer-ID take to arrive?

Usually a few weeks after Anmeldung. If considerably more time has passed, request a written re-notification from the Federal Central Tax Office.

What is the difference between Steuer-ID and Steuernummer?

The Steuer-ID is your personal, lifelong eleven-digit number used for income tax and employment. A Steuernummer is issued by your local tax office for a specific tax matter, typically a business or freelance activity, and can change when you move.

I lost my Steuer-ID letter. What now?

You can find the number on an old tax assessment or annual payroll statement, or request a re-notification from the Federal Central Tax Office, which is sent by post to your registered address.

Does my Tax ID change when I move within Germany?

No. The Steuer-ID stays the same for life. Only a business Steuernummer can change when your responsible tax office changes.

Can I start working without the number?

Usually you can start, but payroll may apply an unfavourable default tax class until you provide it. You recover the difference later through your tax return.

Official sources

• BZSt — Tax identification number (official, English)
• Verwaltung.bund.de — Tax identification number service entry

Related guides

Browse every guide in the bureaucracy guide hub, or go back to the Burokrat homepage.