The free official portal run by the German tax authorities. You file directly, in German, with no guidance or optimisation.
Free filing in English, a free Tax Optimisation Report, and a matched advisor when your case needs one. Submissions run through ELSTER under the hood.
Different tools for different situations. Factual differences, no winner declared.
| Feature | ELSTER (DIY) | Financemate |
|---|---|---|
| English support | No | Yes |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Guided question flow | No | Yes |
| Lohnsteuerbescheinigung OCR | No | Yes |
| Tax Optimisation Report | No | Yes |
| Matched Steuerberater for complex cases | No | Yes |
| Submits to the Finanzamt | Yes | Yes |
| Integrates with broader financial planning | No | Yes |
Comparison based on publicly available information at time of writing. Individual situations vary. For personalised advice, consult a licensed Steuerberater.
Yes. ELSTER is the official German tax portal, provided by the tax authorities at no cost. The trade-off is that the interface and forms are in German and there is no guidance or optimisation layer.
Yes. Filing and the Tax Optimisation Report are free. Steuerberater fees only apply if you use the matched-advisor path, and they are disclosed up front.
Yes. Submissions run through the official ELSTER interface, via a licensed German tax-tech partner. From the Finanzamt's perspective, the submission is a regular ELSTER filing.
Nothing, in practice. You still end up with a filing recorded in the ELSTER system. You gain an English flow, guidance, and the optimisation report.
Yes. Once you have your Steuerbescheid, you can upload it to Financemate to generate the free Tax Optimisation Report, regardless of where you filed.
ELSTER is operated by the German tax authorities and is the most direct route. Financemate stores your documents in Germany, encrypted, and submits through an ELSTER-authorised partner. Both operate within German and EU data-protection rules.
No. You file through Financemate's flow; the partner handles the ELSTER-side technicalities.
If you are comfortable in German and want the most direct route, ELSTER is free and authoritative. If you want an English flow, guided questions, and an optimisation view on top, Financemate adds those for free. Pick based on your preference, not marketing.