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German Tax ID (Steuer-ID): What It Is and How to Get One

Your 11-digit tax ID is issued automatically after you register your address, and your employer needs it to pay you correctly. This guide explains how to get it, what to do while you wait, and how it differs from the Steuernummer.

Reviewed: June 2026Read time: 5 minBest for: Anyone starting work or payroll in Germany

Written & reviewed by the Starting in Germany team, checked against official German government sources.

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The tax ID (steuerliche Identifikationsnummer, or Steuer-ID) is an 11-digit number that identifies you to the German tax system for life. It is issued automatically after you register your address — you do not apply for it separately — and arrives by post a few weeks later. Your employer needs it to tax your salary correctly, so getting registered early matters more than most newcomers realise.

Why the tax ID matters

Without your tax ID, an employer cannot match you to the right tax class and is required to withhold income tax at the highest rate (tax class 6). You get the overpayment back later through your annual tax return, but in the meantime your take-home pay is noticeably smaller. Handing your new employer the tax ID promptly is the simplest way to avoid that.

You will also need it for:

  • Opening some bank accounts and registering for the church tax question.
  • Receiving family benefits such as Kindergeld.
  • Filing your annual income tax return.
  • Most interactions with the Finanzamt (tax office).

How to get your tax ID

There is no separate application. The number is generated when your Anmeldung (address registration) is processed:

  1. Complete your Anmeldung at the local Bürgeramt. See the Anmeldung guide for the documents and appointment steps.
  2. Wait for the letter. The Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) sends your tax ID by post to your registered address, typically within two to three weeks.
  3. Store it safely and give it to your employer, who needs it to run payroll.

If you registered before but never kept the letter, the number still exists — you just need to retrieve it rather than request a new one.

If it is late or lost

Letters get delayed, and post to shared or temporary housing goes missing. If yours has not arrived a few weeks after registering:

  • Request it again from the BZSt using their official online form on the Federal Central Tax Office website. They re-send it by post to your registered address — they will not email or phone it to you, for data-protection reasons.
  • Check your previous payslips or tax documents, where it is often printed.
  • Ask your local Finanzamt, which can look it up if you appear in person with ID.

Tell your employer the number is "in progress" so payroll knows to correct your tax class as soon as it arrives.

Steuer-ID vs Steuernummer

These two are easy to confuse:

  • The Steuer-ID (tax ID) is permanent, personal, and never changes — even if you move, marry, or change jobs.
  • The Steuernummer (tax number) is issued by your local Finanzamt and can change if you move to a different tax office's area. The self-employed use it on invoices, and it is tied to a specific tax file rather than to you as a person.

For most employees, the tax ID is the only one you need to think about. Freelancers and the self-employed also receive a Steuernummer when they register their activity with the Finanzamt.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to receive my tax ID?

Usually two to three weeks after your Anmeldung is processed, sent by post to your registered address. There is nothing to speed it up beyond registering as early as possible.

Can I start working before my tax ID arrives?

Yes, but until your employer has it you may be taxed at the highest rate. The excess is refunded later, and once you provide the number your tax class is corrected going forward.

I had a tax ID years ago — do I get a new one if I return to Germany?

No. The tax ID is assigned for life. If you return, you keep the same number; request a reminder from the BZSt rather than expecting a new one.

Your tax ID sits at the centre of getting paid correctly, alongside your registration, bank account, and insurance. Build your free personalised German plan to line these tasks up in the right order so your first payslip is not taxed at the maximum rate.

Official Sources

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Next Steps

Continue your relocation plan

Move straight into the next dependency instead of hunting across tabs and bookmarks.

Anmeldung guide

Complete the address registration that automatically triggers your tax ID letter.

Bank account guide

Open the German current account your employer pays your salary into.

Health insurance setup

Arrange the coverage proof your employer also needs to run payroll.