TAXMAN review
A guided Windows desktop option for basic German ELSTER tax filing.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026
TAXMAN is Windows desktop software for preparing German income-tax returns. Its interview-style workflow is designed for private taxpayers, employees, retirees, landlords, self-employed people, freelancers and small businesses. The software guides users through tax forms, provides tax-saving guidance, checks for incomplete or inconsistent entries, and supports ELSTER submission to the tax office. It also supports prior-year data transfer, ELSTER file imports, pre-filled tax returns and PDF creation, preview and printing.
The published plans show a one-time price of €34.90 for TAXMAN 2026. This private single-seat license supports up to five tax returns and covers employees, families, retirees, landlords, self-employed people and freelancers. TAXMAN professional is a commercial single-seat license for tax advisers and other paid tax-help providers, with support for 50 tax returns. That makes the standard edition a fit for individuals or households handling several returns, while the professional edition is aimed at paid preparation work.
Platform fit is the main boundary. TAXMAN is deployed as desktop software for Windows and integrates with ELSTER, with BelegManager providing a place to organize receipts and documents. Email, phone and community support channels are available, and the published support profile includes 24/7 support. Choose TAXMAN if you want guided German tax preparation, ELSTER submission and a desktop workflow with prior-year transfer. It is less suitable for people who need broader platform coverage, mobile-first access or a free plan.
Questions about TAXMAN
What does TAXMAN run on? Windows. It runs as a desktop app.
What does TAXMAN integrate with? 1 integration: ELSTER.
Who is TAXMAN built for? Solo users, small businesses and enterprises (our editorial estimate).
TAXMAN pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Guided interviews with checks for incomplete or inconsistent entries
- ELSTER submission, prior-year transfer and pre-filled return support
- BelegManager organizes receipts and documents, with PDF output
- Where it doesn't
- Windows desktop deployment limits platform flexibility
- The private license supports up to five tax returns
- There is no free plan
TAXMAN fact sheet, pricing and score →
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