Detailed description
The tax identification number serves to identify the taxpayer in the tax assessment process. It allows tax returns, notifications, and correspondence to always be clearly assigned to the respective taxpayer.
You must provide your tax identification number to your employer so they can retrieve your payroll tax deduction information, such as your tax bracket. This information is needed to calculate your payroll tax.
The tax identification number is a "non-speaking number". This means that neither personal data (for example, information about residence permits or work permits for people who have moved to Germany (refugees/asylum seekers)) nor the responsible tax office can be derived from it.
Every newborn child and all new citizens are automatically assigned a tax identification number upon their first registration in Germany. This number remains valid for life and does not change even if the person moves or gets married.
You can usually find your tax identification number
- in the income tax assessment notice,
- on the wage tax statement.
If you cannot find your tax identification number, you can request it again on the website of the Federal Central Tax Office or by letter.