Tax Refund (Steuerbescheid) How long does a German tax refund take?
Estimated wait
28 days – 3 months
Based on published sources
Typically ~63 days
After you file your tax return, the tax office (Finanzamt) usually issues the tax assessment (Steuerbescheid) within about 6 to 12 weeks — the 2025 nationwide average was roughly 7 weeks (50 days).
More details
Times vary widely by office: the fastest German tax offices manage under 4 weeks, while busy ones take up to about 13 weeks. Filing electronically (ELSTER), a simple return, and not filing in the very first weeks of the season all help. Processing generally starts in mid-March.
🕒 Last updated: 28 Jun 2026