Lohnsteuer kompakt review
A paid German tax app combining guided filing, IntelliScan, ELSTER, and objection support.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Lohnsteuer kompakt is an online German income-tax application for individuals preparing and submitting tax returns. It suits employees, students, pensioners, self-employed people, landlords, and taxpayers with investment income. Guided questions explain the return process, while tax-saving suggestions use entered data to identify relevant considerations. Preparation is available through a web browser and mobile apps for iOS and Android, with cloud and mobile deployment.
Pricing is based on one-time purchases rather than a subscription. The “1 tax return” plan costs €34.95 and includes one return for any year, tax assessment review, and account binding. The “3 tax returns” plan costs €89.95, while “4 tax returns” costs €114.95; both include the corresponding number of returns, tax assessment review, account binding, and no subscription. The product also offers 20-, 50-, and 100-return plans. All plans include electronic filing through ELSTER interfaces, and the service can be tested before payment when submitting a return. IntelliScan adds AI-powered document recognition, alongside imports for tax-office data and previous returns.
The feature set extends beyond standard employee returns. Lohnsteuer kompakt supports income and expenses for self-employment and business activities, investment income and investment-fund reporting, and rental income from properties and subletting. Automatic completeness and correctness checks can help review entered information, while tax assessment comparison and objection support continue after filing. Email, phone, and documentation support are available, and GDPR is listed as part of its compliance posture. Choose it if you want guided German filing with mobile access and broad income coverage; choose an alternative if you need tax filing outside Germany or a free plan.
Lohnsteuer kompakt pros and cons
- Where it wins
- AI-powered IntelliScan recognizes tax documents
- Supports self-employment, investments, and rental income
- Includes ELSTER filing and tax assessment objection support
- Where it doesn't
- No free plan
- Focused on German income-tax returns
- Returns are bound to the user account
Lohnsteuer kompakt fact sheet, pricing and score →
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update