WISO Steuer

What it does

Users work through German income-tax returns in WISO Steuer, which then transmits them electronically to the tax office via ELSTER.

It can retrieve available tax data with consent, scan payslips and receipts into the return, and recalculate an expected refund as entries are added. SteuerGPT answers tax questions inside the program.

Fees and plans

The product is paid software with no permanent free plan. The Testversion opens every function at no charge, with payment due when the return is submitted. A free trial is available.

An annual Vorteils-Abo is priced at €35.99. Subscribers may submit up to five returns and receive SteuerGPT, a technical hotline, coaching and automatic data entry. It can be canceled at any time.

The Einzelkauf option charges €45.99 once for a single tax year and permits up to five returns, with SteuerGPT included. The published starting price is €35.99 a year.

Where it runs

WISO Steuer runs on Android, iPhone, the web, Windows, Mac and Linux. One account synchronizes work between a browser, smartphone, tablet, Windows computer and Mac.

The app can photograph wage statements, invoices and receipts, extract key fields and place them in the return. Connecting a bank account lets the software sort expenses and fill forms automatically; Tax Banking works only with a finanzblick account.

Windows and Mac editions can retain files on the device for use without a connection. Synchronizing through the cloud, however, depends on internet access. Desktop requirements include Windows 10 or 11, or macOS 12 Monterey or newer, 3 GB of disk space, 4 GB of RAM, 1280×800 graphics and internet access.

Protection, as published

Buhl says WISO Steuer data is stored on its servers in Germany. According to Buhl, HTTPS and AES-256 protect transmission and storage, while personal data is generally not shared with third parties except in cases such as service providers, legal requirements or user consent.

For SteuerGPT, the privacy notice identifies Taxy.io GmbH as processor and lists Microsoft Azure servers located in Germany. Buhl says the software uses the official ELSTER interface and is recognized by ELSTER for electronic filing.

The provider's FAQ covers security and technical requirements. The Vorteils-Abo includes a technical support hotline, and support requests can also go through Buhl's ticket system.

Strengths

With permission, electronically available information from employers, insurers and other institutions may be pulled in to prefill the return. Document scanning places extracted details into the return.

The refund estimate updates after each entry. Before filing, the program reviews the return for mistakes, suggests fixes and provides refund pointers.

Electronic filing through ELSTER is included. From January 1, 2026, users can also retrieve electronic tax notices in the program, compare them line by line with its calculation, and get text assistance for objections.

Catches

Preparing an income-tax return is limited to users with unlimited tax liability in Germany. One license permits up to five returns.

The subscription is billed annually, while the Einzelkauf covers one tax year. The test version is free only until filing, when payment is requested.

Bank categorization requires a finanzblick account. Offline storage is available on Windows and Mac, but synchronization requires internet access.

Who should skip it

WISO Steuer is unsuitable for people without full German tax liability or for returns that fall outside German income tax.

Verdict

WISO Steuer suits German taxpayers who want guided preparation, automatic data imports, document scanning and electronic ELSTER filing in one account. Its plans allow up to five returns, and the subscription adds support features while the one-time option covers a single tax year.

It is a poor match for anyone without unlimited German tax liability, for users seeking a permanent free filing plan, or for people who need an offline workflow that also synchronizes without internet access.

Questions