Getting Your Steuer-ID (Tax ID) in Germany
Getting Your Steuer-ID (Tax ID) in Germany
Estimated time
15 minutes (plus several weeks waiting; BZSt publishes a 3-month escalation threshold)
Cost
€0
Before you start
What You Need
Tap to check off items as you gather them
Step-by-Step
- 1
Complete Your Anmeldung First
- Your Steuer-ID is triggered automatically when you register your address. If you haven't done your Anmeldung yet, complete that first.
💡 Tip: The Anmeldung triggers two things: your Steuer-ID letter and your Anmeldebestätigung. Keep both documents safe — you'll need them repeatedly in your first months.
- 2
Wait for Your Letter
- After your Anmeldung, the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern (BZSt) mails your Steuer-ID to your registered address. BZSt does not publish a guaranteed delivery window; the published escalation threshold is three months — if no IdNr arrives within three months of Anmeldung, contact BZSt
- The letter is a simple one-page document with your 11-digit number — don't throw it away thinking it's junk mail
⚠️ Watch out: The letter is sent to your registered address. If your name isn't on the mailbox, it may be returned. Make sure your surname is displayed on your mailbox before the letter arrives.
- 3
Save Your Steuer-ID Securely
Steuerliche Identifikationsnummer
- Your Steuer-ID is permanent — it stays with you for life, even if you leave Germany and return
- Write it down somewhere safe and take a photo of the letter
💬 Say:
Hier ist meine Steuerliche Identifikationsnummer.
heer ist my-neh shtoy-er-likh-eh ee-den-tee-fee-kah-tsee-ohns-noo-mer
"Here is my tax identification number."
📋 Use when: Giving your Steuer-ID to your employer's HR department
- 4
Request It Again If Needed
- Per BZSt: if no IdNr has been notified to you three months after Anmeldung, you may request a re-notification
- Online: visit bzst.de and use the official input form for IdNr requests
- By post: send a written request to BZSt with a copy of your identity document and your Meldebestätigung
- In person at Finanzamt: visiting your local Finanzamt with passport and Anmeldebestätigung is widely accepted in practice — Finanzamt staff have read access to the IdNr — though BZSt does not publish this as an official retrieval path
💬 Say:
Ich brauche meine Steuer-ID. Ich habe den Brief nicht bekommen.
ikh brow-kheh my-neh shtoy-er ee-dee. ikh hah-beh den breef nikht beh-koh-men
"I need my tax ID. I didn't receive the letter."
📋 Use when: Visiting the Finanzamt to get your Steuer-ID in person
Costs
| Fee | Amount | Payment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tax ID issuance | €0 | N/A | Automatically issued after Anmeldung, completely free |
- Payment:
- N/A
- Notes:
- Automatically issued after Anmeldung, completely free
FAQ
General
I need my Steuer-ID urgently for work — can I speed it up?
BZSt documents two retrieval channels: the online input form at bzst.de and a written request by post. Per the BZSt FAQ, you can request a re-notification only if your IdNr has not been received three months after Anmeldung. In the meantime, your employer can start payroll without your IdNr — they apply Steuerklasse VI as a fallback until you provide it, and switch you to your correct tax class once you supply the number.
What's the difference between Steuer-ID and Steuernummer?
The Steuer-ID (Steuerliche Identifikationsnummer) is your lifelong 11-digit personal tax number. It never changes, even if you move cities. The Steuernummer is assigned by your local tax office (Finanzamt) and changes when you move to a different tax district. Your employer needs your Steuer-ID; you'll get a Steuernummer when you file your first tax return.
I lost my Steuer-ID letter. How do I get it again?
Per BZSt, request a re-notification via the BZSt online input form at bzst.de or by written request by post. Phone retrieval is not a documented BZSt channel for IdNr requests. Visiting your local Finanzamt with passport and Anmeldebestätigung is widely accepted in practice — Finanzamt staff have read access to the IdNr — though BZSt does not publish this as an official retrieval path.
After This Process
- → Employment — give it to your employer so they can process your salary and tax withholdings correctly
- → Bank Account — some banks require it during account opening
- → Tax Return — you'll need it when filing your annual Steuererklärung
Sources
- BZSt — Steuerliche Identifikationsnummer (bzst.de ↗)
- §139b AO — Tax Identification Number (gesetze-im-internet.de ↗)
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More in Germany
- Meldebescheinigung (Registration Certificate) in Germany
- Anmeldung (Address Registration) in Germany
- Applying for Elterngeld (Parental Allowance) in Germany
- Applying for Kindergeld (Child Benefit) in Germany
- Applying for the Niederlassungserlaubnis (Settlement Permit) in Germany
- Changing Your Tax Class (Steuerklasse) in Germany
5 sources cited last accessed 2026-05-06
T1 official portal · T2 embassy/consulate · T3 news · T4 community — higher tier wins on conflict. methodology →
- T1Bundeszentralamt für Steuern (BZSt) 2026-05-06
Die Identifikationsnummer (IdNr) ist eine elfstellige Nummer und enthält keine Informationen über die betreffende Person. Sie ist dauerhaft gültig und ändert sich auch nicht z. B. durch einen Umzug, eine Namensänderung oder durch die Änderung des Familienstandes. Confirms: 11-digit length, lifelong/permanent validity, issued and managed by Bundeszentralamt für Steuern (BZSt).
bzst.de - T1Bundeszentralamt für Steuern (BZSt) — Official FAQ 2026-05-06
Das BZSt teilt Ihnen Ihre IdNr zu, sobald die Meldebehörde dem BZSt die benötigten Daten übermittelt hat. Sollte Ihnen trotz Anmeldung bei der Meldebehörde nach drei Monaten keine IdNr mitgeteilt worden sein, können Sie dem BZSt eine Kopie Ihres Ausweisdokumentes und der Meldebestätigung zusenden. Für eine erfolgreiche Zustellung muss der Nachname am Briefkasten angebracht sein. Auf Anfrage kann das BZSt die IdNr erneut mitteilen. Confirms: triggered by Meldebehörde data transfer, BZSt does not publish a guaranteed delivery window (only the 3-month escalation threshold), surname-on-mailbox requirement, replacement-on-request available.
bzst.de - T1Federal Ministry of Justice (BMJ) — Abgabenordnung 2026-05-06
Abgabenordnung §139a: Das Bundeszentralamt für Steuern teilt jedem Steuerpflichtigen zum Zwecke der eindeutigen Identifizierung in Besteuerungsverfahren ein einheitliches und dauerhaftes Merkmal (Identifikationsmerkmal) zu. Es besteht aus einer Ziffernfolge, die nicht aus anderen Daten über die betroffene Person gebildet oder abgeleitet werden darf. Natürliche Personen erhalten eine Identifikationsnummer. Confirms: legal basis for IdNr, BZSt as issuing authority, lifelong/durable nature, all natural persons receive one.
gesetze-im-internet.de - T1Federal Ministry of Justice (BMJ) — Abgabenordnung 2026-05-06
Abgabenordnung §139b: Eine natürliche Person darf nicht mehr als eine Identifikationsnummer erhalten. Jede Identifikationsnummer darf nur einmal vergeben werden. Das Bundeszentralamt für Steuern teilt der zuständigen Meldebehörde die dem Steuerpflichtigen zugeteilte Identifikationsnummer zur Speicherung im Melderegister mit. Confirms: one-IdNr-per-person rule, never reissued, BZSt assigns it based on data transmitted by Meldebehörde (the Anmeldung-triggers-IdNr mechanism).
gesetze-im-internet.de - T1Bundeszentralamt für Steuern (BZSt) — Official English page 2026-05-06
The identification number (IdNo) concerns an eleven-digit number, and does not contain any information about the person concerned. It is permanently valid and does not change, for example, if you move house, change your name or change your marital status. If you cannot find your IdNo in the documents mentioned above, you have the option of requesting it using the Federal Central Tax Office input form or by letter. Confirms: 11-digit length, permanent validity, retrieval-if-lost is via online input form OR by postal letter (not phone).
bzst.de