Mein ELSTER
by Mein ELSTER
What Mein ELSTER is
Mein ELSTER is a free online tax service for sending tax data electronically without paper. It supports individuals, employers, businesses, associations, and tax advisory professionals. Its listed tax tools include prefilled returns, transferring prior-year data, tax calculations, plausibility checks, comparing assessment data, and digital assessments. It also includes support for visually impaired users. Users can upload receipts to Meine Belege, while the free MeinELSTER+ app can photograph paper receipts and send them to an account. The app suggests values and categories from photographed receipts for review, shows the Mein ELSTER inbox, and lets users submit receipts or message the tax office. For simple tax situations, it can prepare a suggested 2025 income tax return using existing data and allowances. Sign-in options include a certificate file, security stick, signature card, and ElsterSecure mobile app; available functions depend on the method and its security level. ELSTER says its services run on administration infrastructure certified to ISO 27001 based on BSI IT-Grundschutz, and tax data is encrypted in transmission to state data centers. The service is available on web, Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Who it suits
Mein ELSTER suits people and organizations that need to submit tax data electronically, including individuals, employers, businesses, associations, and tax advisory professionals. Its receipt tools, tax features, and multiple authentication options also support people managing returns and related correspondence digitally.
What it does well
- Free online tax service with paperless electronic filing.
- Tax tools include prefilled returns and plausibility checks.
- MeinELSTER+ photographs receipts and suggests values and categories.
- Supports multiple authentication methods, including ElsterSecure.
- Lists support for visually impaired users.
What to know first
- einfachELSTERplus is limited to German residents filing alone with an ELSTER certificate and employment income.
- The simplyELSTERplus description excludes people who need to report children.
- Available functions depend on the selected sign-in method and security level.
Limits
The MeinELSTER+ app’s page specifies Android 14 and iOS 18 or iPadOS 18. einfachELSTERplus is described for German residents filing alone with an ELSTER certificate and employment income who do not need to report children; 2025 returns can also include retirement provision and pension income.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Mein ELSTER | Free online tax service · paperless electronic filing | Free |
As elster.de lists them, read 12 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the Mein ELSTER website.
- Choose a sign-in method: certificate file, security stick, signature card, or ElsterSecure.
- Use the service on web or a listed desktop platform, or install MeinELSTER+ on an Android or Apple device.
- Upload receipts to Meine Belege, or photograph paper receipts in MeinELSTER+ for suggested values and categories.
- Use the available tax forms, inbox, or receipt and message submission features.
Verdict
Choose Mein ELSTER if you need a free way to submit tax data electronically and want tools for returns, receipts, and tax office messages. The suggested 2025 return is aimed at simple tax situations; people considering einfachELSTERplus should check whether its stated eligibility fits their filing situation.
Questions
How much does Mein ELSTER cost?
The listed plan is free, and the service is described as free.
Which devices and platforms are supported?
The listed platforms are Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. MeinELSTER+ is offered for Android and Apple devices, with Android 14 and iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 specified.
Can it handle receipts?
Users can upload receipts to Meine Belege. MeinELSTER+ can photograph paper receipts, suggest values and categories for review, and submit receipts to the tax office.
What sign-in methods are available?
Options include a certificate file, security stick, signature card, and the ElsterSecure mobile app. Available functions depend on the chosen method and its security level.
Who can use the service?
Listed user groups include individuals, employers, businesses, associations, and tax advisory professionals. Organizations can use ELSTER certificates to sign in to online services and submit authenticated applications.
Is there a free trial?
No. The facts list no free trial; the online service and MeinELSTER+ app are described as free.
Facts from Mein ELSTER's own pages
- App availability
- MeinELSTER+ is offered as a free app for Android and Apple devices; its page specifies Android 14 and iOS 18 or iPadOS 18. · elster.de, 12 Oct 2026
- Business access
- Organizations can use ELSTER certificates to sign in to online services and submit authenticated applications. · elster.de, 12 Oct 2026
- Encrypted transmission
- The site says tax data is transmitted in encrypted form to the federal states’ data centers and integrity is ensured with a hash code. · elster.de, 12 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · elster.de, 22 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Munich, Germany · elster.de, 28 Sept 2026
- Inbox and forms
- The MeinELSTER+ app displays the Mein ELSTER inbox and lets users submit receipts or send a message to the tax office. · elster.de, 12 Oct 2026
- Investment income
- Yes · elster.de, 22 Sept 2026
- Limit for simplyELSTERplus
- einfachELSTERplus is described for German residents filing alone with an ELSTER certificate and employment income who do not need to report children; 2025 returns can also include retirement provision and pension income. · elster.de, 12 Oct 2026
- Login options
- Authentication options include a certificate file, security stick, signature card, and ElsterSecure mobile app; available functions depend on the selected method and its security level. · elster.de, 12 Oct 2026
- Mobile access
- web_and_mobile · elster.de, 22 Sept 2026
- One-click return
- MeinELSTER+ can prepare a suggested 2025 income tax return for users in simple tax situations using existing data and allowances. · elster.de, 12 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Mein ELSTER is an online tax office for paperless electronic transmission of tax data. · elster.de, 12 Oct 2026
- Receipt scanning
- MeinELSTER+ extracts suggested values and categories from photographed receipts for users to review. · elster.de, 12 Oct 2026
- Receipt storage
- Users can upload receipts to “Meine Belege,” and the MeinELSTER+ app can photograph paper receipts and transfer them to the account. · elster.de, 12 Oct 2026
- Rental income
- Yes · elster.de, 22 Sept 2026
- Security certification
- ELSTER services run on the administration’s own infrastructure certified to ISO 27001 on the basis of BSI IT-Grundschutz. · elster.de, 12 Oct 2026
- Self-employment support
- Yes · elster.de, 22 Sept 2026
- Support
- ELSTER offers a technical hotline on weekdays from 7:00 to 22:00 and weekends or nationwide public holidays from 10:00 to 18:00; it handles technical issues only. · elster.de, 12 Oct 2026
- Supported platforms
- The tested browser configurations include Windows, macOS, and Ubuntu Linux; mobile access with ElsterSecure includes Android and iOS. · elster.de, 12 Oct 2026
- Supported users
- The site lists individuals, employers, businesses, associations, and tax advisory professionals as user groups. · elster.de, 12 Oct 2026
- Tax features
- The service lists prior-year data transfer, tax calculation, assessment-data comparison, digital assessments, prefilled returns, plausibility checks, and support for visually impaired users. · elster.de, 12 Oct 2026
Where Mein ELSTER stands on Freedom251
- Tax Software#3 of 149
- Personal Tax Software#5 of 123