Submitting Receipts to the Finanzamt: Deadlines, Channels, Lost Receipts
The Finanzamt asks for receipts for your German tax return? Since 2017 you keep receipts and send them only on request. How to respond on time, via Mein ELSTER or by post, and never with originals.
- Category
- Taxes
- Updated
- Author
- Diana Chebotareva
A letter from the Finanzamt asking for receipts does not mean something went wrong. Since 2017, the Belegvorhaltepflicht applies: you file your German tax return without any receipts, keep them at home, and submit them only when the Finanzamt requests them. That request is exactly what just happened. This guide shows how to respond on time, completely, and without mailing originals.
The short version
- Since 2017 the Belegvorhaltepflicht applies: do not file receipts with the return; keep them and send them only on request.
- The Finanzamt requests receipts with a letter (Beleganforderung) and names a deadline in it. That deadline counts.
- Not enough time? Ask for an extension before the deadline runs out. A short call or message to the Finanzamt usually does it.
- Send copies or scans, never originals, unless the Finanzamt explicitly demands them.
- Not responding is the most expensive option: the Finanzamt strikes the position and your refund shrinks.
How the receipt request works
After you file, the Finanzamt reviews your return. If the clerk wants evidence for specific positions, for example high income-related expenses or medical costs, you receive a letter: the Beleganforderung. It states which receipts the Finanzamt wants to see, by when, and through which channel.
Two things decide the outcome now:
- The deadline. Respond within the deadline stated in the letter. If you cannot make it, ask for more time before it runs out; a short call or a message via Mein ELSTER is usually enough.
- Completeness. Send exactly the requested receipts, sorted by position, so the clerk can match everything directly.
If you do not react at all, the Finanzamt simply strikes the affected position from the calculation, and the refund shrinks. After that, your only remedy is an objection against the tax assessment, with a one-month deadline.
The response checklist
Work through the letter like this:
- Read: which receipts does the Finanzamt want, by when, through which channel?
- Collect: compile the receipts per position and scan or photograph them legibly.
- Check the deadline: too tight? Ask for an extension before it expires.
- Send, ideally digitally:
| Channel | What you send | What you never send |
|---|---|---|
| Mein ELSTER, function „Belegnachreichung" | Scans or photos as PDF, with your tax number and tax year | Illegible or cropped photos |
| Post | Copies with a short cover note (tax number, tax year) | Originals, unless explicitly demanded |
| The channel named in the letter | Exactly the requested receipts | The complete unsorted folder |
The originals stay with you. Keep them at least until the tax assessment is final (bestandskräftig), better longer. For donation confirmations (Zuwendungsbestätigungen): keep them for at least one year after the assessment.
Lost a receipt: your options
If a receipt is missing, first ask the issuer for a duplicate: shops, insurers, and contractors can issue a copy of the invoice. That is the safest replacement.
If that fails, the last resort is an Eigenbeleg: a self-made record with date, amount, purpose, and payee. Eigenbelege work best for small amounts, and the Finanzamt decides whether to accept them. So do not rely on them; save your receipts digitally the moment they come in.
Never hunt for receipts again
The relaxed version starts long before the letter: with Norman you photograph receipts in the app all year round. When a Beleganforderung arrives later, everything is already sorted and legible. The tax return itself becomes a set of clear questions in English instead of forms: Norman finds the deductions and files directly via ELSTER, without you needing an ELSTER account. The tax return costs €19 one-time, you pay only when you submit, joint filing included, and it works from Claude or ChatGPT too. And if you still want to file past years: the average refund is €1,095 per return, and the deadlines for every year are here.
FAQ
Do I have to file receipts together with my German tax return?
No. Since 2017 the Belegvorhaltepflicht applies: you file the return without receipts, keep them, and send them only when the Finanzamt requests them.
How long do I have to keep receipts?
As a private filer, at least until the tax assessment is final (bestandskräftig), better longer. For donation confirmations: at least one year after the assessment.
What happens if I do not respond to the receipt request?
The Finanzamt strikes the affected position and your refund shrinks. After that, only an objection within one month of notification of the assessment can fix it.
The deadline in the letter is too short. What can I do?
Ask the Finanzamt for an extension before the deadline runs out. A short call or a message via Mein ELSTER is usually enough.
Do I have to send originals?
No. Send copies or scans. You only send originals if the Finanzamt explicitly demands them.
Receipts ready, tax return in minutes
With Norman you photograph receipts in the app all year and have them ready when the Finanzamt asks. The tax return costs €19 one-time, you pay only when you submit. Works from Claude and ChatGPT too.