Our German tax refund calculator is free to use so you can find out what you are owed and then decide whether or not to proceed. The German tax calculator will give you an estimation but once you apply for a tax refund, we will look at additional circumstances to see how we can maximise your refund.
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What is a U1 Form and why might I need one?
The U1 Form certifies the periods of social insurance and employment in Germany.
When you are working in Germany, your employer will deduct various insurance contributions (health, unemployment, pension, etc.) and transfer them to the relevant German Fund. When you return to your home country, you may need to prove that you have paid social insurance contributions abroad in order to receive unemployment or other social benefits in your home or any other EU/EEA country. In order to do this you will need to provide your local social security service with the certified U1 form.
Please note that the periods of social insurance and employment in Germany will be taken into account when calculating your unemployment benefit in your destination country. It is also an excellent way to protect your social contributions and connect them to your country of permanent residence.
Get your certified U1 FormUseful German tax facts
- The German tax year runs from 1 January – 31 December
- To claim your German tax refund we’ll need your Lohnsteuerbescheinigung. This is the official government form that you receive from your employer at the end of the tax year.
- The average refund we get for our German tax clients is €1,020
- If you’ve applied for a tax rebate in Germany before, you’ll have a Steuernummer, it’s issued by your local tax office in Germany.
It’s free to get a German tax refund estimation
We will secure your U1 Forms for only €48