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Hamburg-Altona tax office

Apply for a change of tax class during marriage or civil partnership

As a spouse or life partner, you have three possible tax class combinations to choose from. You are free to choose from these.

Important notes

Prerequisites

There must be an intact marriage or civil partnership so that you can choose between several tax class combinations. Permanent separation terminates the requirements.

Documents required

  • Form "Declaration of permanent separation" with tax identification number and the signature of a spouse/partner
  • Form “Declaration on the resumption of marital/civil partnership” with tax identification number and signature of both spouses/civil partners

Please note

  • Hamburg citizens can contact any regional tax office in Hamburg for ELStAM matters.
  • The registration offices are responsible for changing the civil status data in the register (e.g. marriage, establishing a civil partnership, birth).

Deadlines

Basically none.


However, the application for a change of tax class must be submitted by the beginning of November of a year if the changed tax class is still to be taken into account for the December payroll accounting period of the same year.


A change in tax class takes effect on the 1st of the month following the application.

Procedure & Fees

Procedure

If you and your partner would like to change tax class, declare permanent separation, or want to resume marital/civil partnership, you must submit an application to the tax office:

You can apply for a tax class change online and barrier-free via MEIN ELSTER. ELSTER is a platform-independent access to the electronic services of the tax administration. In a first stage, only the offering or receipt of applications/declarations from persons with unlimited tax liability is covered.
You need a certificate for electronic authenticated transmission. You will receive this after your registration on ELSTER. Please note that the registration process can take up to 2 weeks.

Alternatively, you can select the appropriate application form in the form management system of the Federal Finance Administration in the "Tax forms" area under "Income tax (employees)":

  • "Application for a change of tax class"
  • Declaration of permanent separation
  • Statement of Resumption of Marital / Civil Partnership

Complete the application or declaration on an electronic device or print it out by hand. You and your partner must sign the application or declaration.
Send the documents by post to your local tax office.

Processing time

The application will be implemented as soon as possible after receipt by the responsible tax office. A change of tax class becomes effective on the 1st of the month following the application.

Fees

No

Service description

As a spouse or life partner, you have three possible tax class combinations to choose from. You are free to choose from these.

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Address and contact information

Phone

115

Opening hours

Mon - Tue 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Thurs 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., closed on Wednesdays and Fridays

Facility info

Mensch in einem Rollstuhl Accessible

Postfach 50 04 71, 22704 Hamburg. Briefkasten vorhanden. Bei der ersten Leerung des Tages wird als Eingang das Datum des vorherigen Werktages (Samstag kein Werktag) auf den Schreiben vermerkt.

Public transport

S11 / S21 / S31 / A1 buses X3 / 3/20/25/115/180/183 Holstenstrasse

Public Service Disclaimer

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