German tax software compared, 2026
Norman, Taxfix, SteuerGo, wundertax, WISO Steuer, CHECK24, and ELSTER: price per return, joint filing, languages, and AI filing in one table. As of August 2026.
Seven tools in one table
As of August 2026. Prices per the providers' websites, Norman price excl. VAT for the private income tax return.
|  | SteuerGo | wundertax | WISO Steuer | CHECK24 | ELSTER | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price per return | €19 one-time | €39.99 on subscription, €49.99 standalone | 34,95 € | 34,99 € | 35,99 € | 0 € | 0 € |
| Joint filing | Included in the price | €59.99 on subscription, €69.99 standalone | €34.95 per return | 49,99 € | Included in the price | 0 € | 0 € |
| Pay only at submission | Free | Free | |||||
| English interface | |||||||
| Russian interface | PL, HR, and more | ||||||
| Filing from Claude or ChatGPT | |||||||
| Guided interview | |||||||
| Free bookkeeping for the self-employed | |||||||
| Works without an ELSTER account |
In short
CHECK24 and ELSTER cost nothing. CHECK24 Steuer is financed through ads and cross-selling, and ELSTER is the official portal with bare forms, no guidance, and German only. If you know your taxes well and don't need English, they are the free route.
Taxfix, SteuerGo, wundertax, and WISO Steuer are the guided paid tools: between €34.95 and €49.99 per return (as of August 2026), each with its own strength. SteuerGo brings many interface languages, wundertax profession-specific flows, and WISO Steuer a deep feature set for power users.
Norman is, at €19 one-time, the cheapest guided paid option and the only one in this comparison that works entirely from Claude or ChatGPT. Joint filing included, interface in German, English, and Russian, and you pay only when you file. The self-employed get free bookkeeping on top.
File your tax return for €19
Start for free, answer the questions in the app or in the chat, and pay only when you file.
Start for freeFAQ
What is the cheapest tax filing software?
Completely free are CHECK24 Steuer (financed through ads and cross-selling) and the official ELSTER portal (bare forms, German only). Among the guided paid tools, Norman is the cheapest at €19 one-time: Taxfix, SteuerGo, wundertax, and WISO Steuer range from €34.95 to €49.99 per return (as of August 2026).
What does the tax return cost with Norman?
€19 one-time per tax year, and you pay only when you file: fill everything in, review the result, then decide. Joint filing is included, and there is no subscription. Norman submits to the tax office through the official ELSTER interface; you don't need your own ELSTER account.
Can I do my German tax return in English?
Yes. Norman guides you through the return in German, English, or Russian. Taxfix, SteuerGo, and wundertax also have English interfaces, and SteuerGo adds Polish, Croatian, and more. WISO Steuer, CHECK24, and ELSTER are German only.
Can I file my tax return through ChatGPT or Claude?
Yes, with Norman: you connect Norman to Claude or ChatGPT and do the entire return in the chat, from the questions to the submission to the tax office. As in the app, you pay only when you file (€19). No other tool in this comparison offers that.
Do I need an ELSTER account for my tax return?
Only if you file directly in the ELSTER portal. Norman, Taxfix, SteuerGo, wundertax, WISO Steuer, and CHECK24 submit your return to the tax office through the official interface, without you having to create your own ELSTER account.