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smartsteuer

#27 of 36 in Tax Preparation SoftwarePersonal Tax Software

smartsteuer: A guided German tax-filing service with ELSTER, business returns and five annual submissions. Ranked #27 of 36 in Tax Preparation Software by our editors (6.5/10); pricing: Paid; best for german self-employed filers using ELSTER.

6.5/10Editor score
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smartsteuer6.5 Visit smartsteuer

At a glance

  • Editor score
    6.5 / 10
  • Pricing
    Paid
  • Best for
    German self-employed filers using ELSTER
  • Free plan
    No
  • Paid from
    €39.99/yr
  • Filer types
    Both
  • Facts checked
    20 Sep 2026
smartsteuer screenshot

  • Where it wins

    • Guided preparation with smartCheck and prefilled tax data
    • Supports self-employed calculations, VAT and trade-tax returns
    • Includes ELSTER filing, corrections and up to five submissions

  • Where it doesn't

    • Web-only access may not suit buyers seeking a native app
    • The €39.99 annual plan covers one purchased tax year
    • Its focus is German tax filing and ELSTER workflows

Our verdict on smartsteuer

smartsteuer is browser-based tax-preparation software for German taxpayers, including employees, students, retirees, investors, landlords, self-employed people, freelancers and businesses. It guides users through tax returns covering employment, investments, rental property and self-employment. The service can retrieve prefilled data from the tax office, transfer prior-year information, check entries before submission and send returns electronically through ELSTER. It also supports document submission to the tax office and works on computers and smartphones without installing an app.

The published plan is €39.99 per year for the smartsteuer plan. That price covers up to five tax-return submissions for the purchased tax year, business tax returns, a pre-submission tax check and support. The plan also includes an income-surplus calculation for self-employed users, plus automatic preparation of VAT and trade-tax returns where required. For people who need several submissions within one tax year or a combination of personal and business filing tools, the single paid plan keeps the offering straightforward.

Its strongest fit is for German filers who want guided preparation and electronic ELSTER submission in one web service. Self-employed users gain specific support for income-surplus calculations, VAT and trade-tax returns, while correction and re-submission workflows help when a return needs updating. smartsteuer integrates with ELSTER and Lexware Office, but access is limited to the web rather than a dedicated app. Choose it for German tax workflows, prefilled information and business-related filings; look elsewhere if you need broader platform coverage or tax filing outside this focus.

Your product? Our editors can test smartsteuer in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

smartsteuer pricing

Plans Paid No free plan — trial or paid only. Prices checked 20 Sep 2026.
See plans on smartsteuer.de

All 1 smartsteuer plans and prices →

smartsteuer fact sheet

Free planNo
Paid from€39.99/yr
Filer typesBoth
State returnsNot verified
Amended returnsYes
Self-employed supportYes
Rental income supportYes
Electronic filing includedYes
DeploymentCloud
PlatformsWeb
Compliance & securityGDPR
SupportEmail, Live chat, Docs · 24/7
Built forSolo, Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate)
Integrations2 integrations: ELSTER, Lexware Office
PricingPaid (source)
Websitesmartsteuer.de
Facts checked20 Sep 2026

smartsteuer integrations

smartsteuer lists 2 integrations on its own site.

  • ELSTER
  • Lexware Office

Alternatives to smartsteuer

See all smartsteuer alternatives →

Also Ranked In

smartsteuer is ranked in 2 of our directories.

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Featured on iTechGuides

Featured on iTechGuides — smartsteuer 6.5/10

smartsteuer is listed in our Tax Preparation Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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