Tax returns via smartphone are a big step closer: since March 31, 2026, citizens have been able to register for the new one-click tax return in the MeinELSTER+ app. Around 11.5 million taxpayers in Germany will be able to use the new service at the start. The actual function will then be active from July 1, 2026 – and will make filing income tax returns easier than ever before.
MeinELSTER+: How the one-click tax return works
The principle behind the new function is simple: the tax authorities already have a lot of taxpayer data automatically – such as wage and salary data, pension payments and social security contributions. Instead of laboriously entering this information into forms by hand as before, the system prepares a pre-filled tax return for the 2025 tax year and sends it directly to the smartphone. There is also a preview of the expected tax assessment notice.
If you agree with the pre-filled data, you can send the return with just a single click. Changes and additions can of course be made at any time before sending – for example, if individual income-related expenses or special expenses need to be added. The function was developed in Bavaria on behalf of the federal and state governments and is available nationwide via the ELSTER portal.
Who can use the app at launch?
At launch, the offer is initially aimed at a limited group of people. They can use the one-click version:
- Single, childless employees
- Recipients of retirement income (pension, annuity)
The prerequisite in each case is that there is no other income – for example from letting or self-employment. Anyone who is married, has children or has additional sources of income will remain with the familiar ELSTER workflows for the time being. However, the federal states are planning to gradually expand the group of users. Specific dates for this have not yet been set.
Requirements and timetable
| Details | Registration information |
|---|---|
| Start of registration | March 31, 2026 |
| Function start | July 1, 2026 |
| Tax year | 2025 |
| Beneficiaries at the start | approx. 11.5 million taxpayers |
| Prerequisites | ELSTER account + MyELSTER+ app |
| Available for | Android from version 13, iOS from version 17 |
An existing ELSTER account is required for registration. The MeinELSTER+ app must be installed on the smartphone and is available for both Android (from version 13) and iOS (from version 17). You can register directly via the official ELSTER information page.
Criticism: Not useful for everyone
Vereinigte Lohnsteuerhilfe (VLH) points out that the one-click tax return is not equally advantageous for everyone. Anyone who has deductible expenses in addition to the automatically provided data – such as travel costs, home office allowance or extraordinary expenses – should definitely add these before submitting. Otherwise you may be giving away money. For standard cases without major deduction options, however, the app solution is a real time-saver.
ELSTER as a pioneer of e-government
ELSTER is considered the most successful e-government procedure in Germany. With the new MeinELSTER+ function, the federal states want to further advance the digitalization of tax administration. The fact that all federal states are using the same solution is intended to avoid isolated solutions and make work easier for both citizens and tax offices.
Conclusion on the MeinELSTER+ app
The one-click tax return via MeinELSTER+ is a welcome step towards uncomplicated digitalization. For the initially limited user group – around 11.5 million taxpayers – the app can massively simplify the annual tax return. It remains to be seen whether the service will also be suitable for more complex cases in the long term. Registration is now possible via the official ELSTER website.
