{"id":3189,"date":"2022-05-18T16:19:37","date_gmt":"2022-05-18T14:19:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.accountable.de\/?p=3189"},"modified":"2026-10-27T14:15:37","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T13:15:37","slug":"self-employed-how-to-file-your-income-tax-in-9-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.accountable.de\/en\/blog\/self-employed-how-to-file-your-income-tax-in-9-steps\/","title":{"rendered":"Self-employed in Germany? How to file your Einkommensteuererkl\u00e4rung in 9 Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Once a year, everyone who is self-employed in Germany has to file an income tax return, the Einkommensteuererkl\u00e4rung. It sounds intimidating, but it’s far less complicated than the name suggests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to prepare your income tax return step by step with Accountable and send it directly to the Finanzamt (your local tax office).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accountable makes sure your data is correct with smart tax checks, an AI Tax Advisor and the tax guarantee. It guides you step by step through the tax filing, showing you the estimated tax or refund\u00a0live throughout the whole flow<\/strong>, so you monitor your entries while filing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One thing to keep in mind: the income tax return isn’t the only annual filing on your list. Alongside it, you’ll also need to submit your\u00a0E\u00dcR and your annual VAT return (Umsatzsteuerjahreserkl\u00e4rung)<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to submit your tax returns directly from Accountable you’ll need the Steuern plan<\/a> or higher. You can find a current overview of what each plan includes on the\u00a0pricing page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Video: Complete your German income tax return with Accountable<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As a self-employed professional, freelancer, or small business owner, you can complete your income tax return with Accountable. That means your income tax return, finally done by yourself, without a tax advisor, without the stress, and all from one app.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Here’s how to file your Einkommensteuererkl\u00e4rung in 9 simple steps with Accountable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Enter your income and expenses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before anything else, make sure all of your income from the year, invoices, cash payments and so on, is recorded in Accountable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then do the same for your business expenses. For an expense to count in your E\u00dcR, it either needs a document attached – the original receipt or invoice – or you need to mark it as justified without a document (rent backed by a contract, for example).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two more rules are easy to overlook:<\/p>\n\n\n\n