Tax Refund for Workers in Germany

To reclaim income tax paid in Germany as a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania, several important steps must be followed. Below is the procedure and a list of required documents:

1. Income Tax Declaration in Germany:

• Tax return (Steuererklärung) must be submitted to the German tax office (Finanzamt). This can be done either by the taxpayer themselves or through a tax advisor (Steuerberater) or online platforms such as Elster – the official German tax declaration software.
• The tax declaration is usually due by July 31 of the following year. If a tax advisor is used, the deadline can be extended to December 31 of the following year.

2. Required Documents:

• Lohnsteuerbescheinigung – a document issued by the employer showing the total income earned and taxes paid during the year.
• Income tax declaration (Einkommensteuererklärung) – the official form used to declare all income and request a tax refund.
• Copy of an ID card or passport.
• Bank account details (IBAN and BIC) – to which the refund will be transferred.

3. Additional Documents:

• If you have children and are applying for child benefits (Kindergeld) or child-related tax deductions, you must provide birth certificates, proof of residence, and school or kindergarten attendance documents.
• If you worked only part of the year in Germany but also earned income abroad, you may need to submit documents showing foreign income.
• If you worked in Lithuania, you might need to provide a certificate of income issued by the Lithuanian Tax Authority (VMI).

4. Tax Classes:

• If you are married, it may be more beneficial to declare your income under tax class 3 (Steuerklasse 3), which often results in a higher tax refund. You will need to provide a marriage certificate and other documents confirming your marital status.

5. Submitting the Documents:

• After completing the tax declaration and attaching all required documents, everything must be sent to the local Finanzamt (tax office), where your declaration will be reviewed and processed.

6. Refund Processing Time:

• After submission, the tax refund process usually takes from a few weeks to several months, depending on the complexity of your case and the workload of the tax office.

7. Tax Declaration in Lithuania:

• If you are a permanent resident of Lithuania and are required to declare your worldwide income, you must report your income earned in Germany to the Lithuanian Tax Authority (VMI). You may need to present a certificate of taxes paid in Germany to avoid double taxation.

Summary:

Lithuanian citizens who have worked in Germany and wish to reclaim overpaid taxes must correctly complete their German tax declaration and provide all necessary documents, such as the Lohnsteuerbescheinigung, income tax return, family documents, and proof of income from other countries. Proper submission ensures faster tax refund processing and helps avoid double taxation.

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