Your German Steuer-ID
The German Steuer-ID is your personal tax number for life. You need it for a German tax return and for Kindergeld, so here is where to find it and how to get it again.
What the German Steuer-ID is
Steuer-ID is short for steuerliche Identifikationsnummer, the tax identification number. You may also see it as IdNr or TIN. It has 11 digits.
Every person who is registered in Germany gets one from the Federal Central Tax Office (Bundeszentralamt für Steuern, BZSt). It is sent by letter, usually a few weeks after you register your address. The number stays the same for your whole life, even if you move, change jobs or leave Germany.
- Your employer needs it to take the right wage tax.
- You need it on your tax return.
- You need it to apply for Kindergeld. Without the Steuer-ID of the parent who applies, Kindergeld cannot be paid.
Where to find your Steuer-ID
If you have worked in Germany, your Steuer-ID is probably already in your papers. Look here first:
- Your Lohnsteuerbescheinigung, the yearly certificate from your employer. It is near the top, marked "Identifikationsnummer".
- Your payslips (Lohnabrechnung). Many employers print it there.
- The letter from the BZSt you got after you registered in Germany.
- A letter from the Finanzamt, for example an old tax assessment (Steuerbescheid).
- Letters from the Familienkasse, if you already get Kindergeld.
If you lost it or never received it
You can ask the BZSt to send your Steuer-ID again. On the BZSt website there is a form to request it. You give your name, date of birth and address. The number is then sent to you by post.
For data protection, the BZSt does not give the Steuer-ID by phone or email. It is only sent by letter.
Living abroad does not stop you. People who live in another EU country and work, or worked, in Germany can get a Steuer-ID from the BZSt. Post from Germany to your home country can take longer, so ask early, especially before a deadline.
Steuer-ID for your children
Children who were registered in Germany also have a Steuer-ID. Children who always lived in your home country often have none. For them, the Familienkasse accepts the personal number from your home country instead: CNP in Romania, EGN in Bulgaria or PESEL in Poland.
Steuer-ID is not the same as Steuernummer
Many people mix up these two numbers.
| Question | Steuer-ID | Steuernummer |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Your personal tax ID | Your file number at one Finanzamt |
| Who gives it | The BZSt | Your local Finanzamt |
| Format | Always 11 digits | Depends on the Finanzamt and the state |
| Does it change? | Never | Can change if you move |
| Do employees have one? | Yes, everyone registered | Usually only after you have filed a tax return |
How Geldback uses your Steuer-ID
Geldback puts your Steuer-ID on your tax return and your Kindergeld forms. It uses the Steuer-ID of you, your spouse and your children only with your clear consent, and only to fill in your forms. Your data is stored in the EU and encrypted.
Questions and answers
How many digits does the Steuer-ID have?
11 digits. If your number has another length or has slashes in it, it is probably the Steuernummer, not the Steuer-ID.
Can I get my Steuer-ID by phone or email?
No. For data protection, the BZSt only sends it by post.
I do not live in Germany anymore. Can I still get my Steuer-ID?
Yes. Your Steuer-ID stays the same, and the BZSt can send it to you. Post abroad can take longer, so ask early.
Does a Steuer-ID tell me which Finanzamt to send my return to?
No. The Steuer-ID does not belong to a Finanzamt. Use your address in Germany, or the Finanzamt named on your Lohnsteuerbescheinigung.
Updated 23 October 2026