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No. It is sufficient for one of them to register. This is because only the person who submits the data is authenticated. As long as no objections to the contrary are raised, the tax office assumes for further processing that the content of the tax return is known to both spouses/partners and that a legally valid income tax return has been submitted for both of them.

There is no charge for the My ELSTER service. However, users who are interested in the security stick or signature card Login options require a security stick or a supported signature card for authentication plus card reader when registering, which they must purchase in advance or already have. This is associated with costs. There are no costs for using a certificate file.

Yes, by the way, you can also decide which security procedure is most suitable for you by choosing the type of Login.
You can find technical information on the individual procedures at Data security and IT security.

In the My ELSTER inbox, only those submissions are currently confirmed that have also been made directly via My ELSTER (in the "Forms/Services" section).

When registering with your personal identification number, you can only create one user account.
When registering with your organization tax number, you can only create 5000 user accounts per tax number with a certificate file. In conjunction with a security stick, the maximum number of user accounts per tax number increases to 10,000. With a signature card, the maximum number is 1,000.

Yes, only the user names of the user accounts must be different. Please note, however, that the simultaneous use of a signature card and security stick on one PC can lead to technical problems with the driver software.

You must register for each user account you wish to create. Please note that you must assign a new user name for the user account each time you register so that you can distinguish between your user accounts.

Yes, you can delete a user account.

On the start page of ELSTER, select the menu item "My user account", "Delete user account".
There you need to enter the e-mail address and user name of your user account.

If you no longer know the user name, you can use the "Send user name" link to have all user accounts registered under the entered e-mail address and registrations started sent to you.
In the next step, you must answer the security query and provide a reason. You will then be asked whether you really want to carry out the deletion process. Click on "Yes" to delete the user account.

If you have registered with your identification number and have forgotten the answer to the security question, you can still delete the account.

You can continue deleting the user account using the "Forgot answer?" function.
Enter your date of birth and identification number and select the reason for deleting the account. Once the entered identification number and date of birth have been successfully checked, you will receive a confirmation message.
At the same time, an e-mail with a deletion link will be sent to the e-mail address stored in the user account. The user account can be permanently deleted via this link.

If you are unable to carry out the deletion because the email address used for registration or saved in the user account no longer exists or you have forgotten the answer to the security question when registering with a tax number, please contact your local tax office.

Yes, under "My user account", "Delete user account" you can also delete a user account for which registration has not yet been completed. Please note, however, that for technical reasons the letter with the activation code will still be sent to you. This has no effect on the deletion of the user account. You can then destroy the letter with the activation code.

No. This functionality is planned for a later date. At present, all data (e.g. messages in the inbox, drafts and created profiles) are deleted during this process. They cannot be restored.

If the answer to the security question is entered incorrectly 3 times, you can try to delete the account again the next day (from 00:00:01). You will then have another 3 attempts.
Can't remember your security question for deleting your user account? If you have registered with your identification number, it is often still possible to delete your user account using the "Forgot your answer?" function. Enter your date of birth and your identification number and select the reason for deleting the account. Once the entered identification number and date of birth have been successfully checked, you will receive a confirmation of transmission. At the same time, an e-mail with a deletion link will be sent to the e-mail address stored in the user account. This link can be used to permanently delete the user account. If you are unable to carry out the deletion, e.g. because the "Forgot your answer?" function is not displayed, please contact the office responsible in your federal state, stating your tax number or identification number and your user name (see https://www.elste r.de/eportal/infoseite/kontakt under "Problems registering with Mein ELSTER").
Deletion by the ELSTER Hotline is not possible.

The ElsterAuthenticator is a program that enables the use of My ELSTER with a security stick and signature card without a Java browser plugin.

After installing and configuring the ElsterAuthenticator, users of My ELSTER can once again use all supported browsers together with their security stick or signature card. During use, the ElsterAuthenticator must run in the background. If a step is then performed in My ELSTER in which access to the security stick or signature card is required, the ElsterAuthenticator comes to the foreground and, if necessary, requests a password entry in order to perform the respective action (e.g. saving a mailbox message).

Manual for ElsterAuthenticator

The ElsterAuthenticator can only be used together with security sticks and signature cards. The operating systems Windows, macOS and Linux Ubuntu are supported. Detailed information on the supported configurations can be found at www.sicherheitsstick.de.

Certificate files are still supported directly in the Browser on a JavaScript basis, the use of the ElsterAuthenticator is not required here.

When registering with a security stick using the ElsterAuthenticator, you will be asked to memorize the newly generated PUK (Personal Unblocking Key). Alternatively, the PUK can also be saved. The PUK can be used to unlock the password of the "G&D StarSign Crypto USB Token (S)"security stick if it has been entered incorrectly too often.

If a registration was carried out without using the ElsterAuthenticator, there is no PUK. The "G&D StarSign Crypto USB Token (S)" can be unlocked via the token administration tool or the ElsterAuthenticator.

If the password has been entered incorrectly too many times, your security stick will be locked and you will receive a corresponding error message. To unlock the "G&D StarSign Crypto USB Token (S)" using the PUK, navigate to "Change password" via the menu. There you will find the "Reset password" link in the "Forgot password / stick locked?" section. If you follow this link, you can enter your PUK, assign a new password and thus unlock your security stick.

In the event that the ElsterAuthenticator is terminated immediately after starting with the error message "Port occupied", you should check whether another ElsterAuthenticator has already been started.

If this is not the case, then the cause is that another application on your system is occupying Port 24848. Please try to identify the application in question and close it while using the ElsterAuthenticator.

In order to be able to perform various actions in My ELSTER together with the ElsterAuthenticator (for example, sending forms), the ElsterAuthenticator must be able to establish a connection to My ELSTER.
If the connection cannot be established, one possible cause is that no direct connection to the Internet is possible in your system environment, but only via an HTTP proxy. In this case, go to the ElsterAuthenticator configuration, tab "Proxy" and enter the proxy URL required in your system.
Firewall settings may restrict the ElsterAuthenticator's access to My ELSTER. In this case, access to the Host www.elster.de, Port 443, TCP protocol must be enabled.
Use the connection test in the Proxy configuration of the ElsterAuthenticator to check that a connection can be established.

Your password must not be too short or contain any unauthorized characters. It must be exactly 6 characters long and only the following characters are allowed:

Letters (without umlauts and ß), digits and the special characters !"#$%&'()*+,-./:;<=>?@[]^_`{|}~ and the space character.

If you open the manual in ElsterAuthenticator and it does not open in the latest version, one possible cause is that you have installed ElsterAuthenticator multiple times. This can happen if you have installed ElsterAuthenticator both as "Administrator" and as "User". It is therefore not recommended to install the application multiple times on one system (this also includes installation as a user with and without administrator rights), as this can lead to undesirable effects and technical problems.

To solve this problem, you must uninstall all installed versions of the ElsterAuthenticator and reinstall the latest version.

When the "G&D StarSign Crypto USB Token (S)" is plugged in for the first time, Windows attempts to install a suitable driver via the Windows driver service. As the security stick does not require a special driver, the Windows driver service does not detect a driver for installation. This behavior occurs under Windows 7, 8 and 10. By installing the ElsterAuthenticator, the "G&D StarSign Crypto USB Token (S)" is immediately ready for use, so the warning can be ignored.

Optional: Download from www.sicherheitsstick.de to download the program for setting the registry values of the security stick and execute it with a double-click. The registry values address the Smartcard initialization of Windows. As a result, the above-mentioned warning is no longer displayed.

When using a Windows Terminal Server, the activation of the user account must be started in the ElsterAuthenticator. This is done by clicking on "Account activation". The user account can then be activated as usual.

The security stick is a special USB stick for secure identification in My ELSTER. It has a cryptographic chip that can store the digital identity of a taxpayer absolutely securely and that performs the cryptographic operations for authentication and electronic signature.
To use the security stick, you need to install additional Software, which you can download at www.sicherheitsstick.de can download.
The security stick is not visible as a drive on your computer.

No, at the moment you can only use the security sticks in this Shop acquire.

The security stick supports 64-bit operating systems. You can find out more about the supported drivers for 64-bit operating systems at www.sicherheitsstick.de.

On the page https://www.sicherheitsstick.de/FAQs.html you will find more frequently asked questions about the security sticks.

To use the security stick under Linux Ubuntu, certain system packages or libraries must be available. Please follow the installation instructions for commissioning the security stick, which can be found at www.sicherheitsstick.de can find.

A signature card can be used for a maximum of one user account in My ELSTER. However, an active user account already exists for your signature card in My ELSTER; it is possible to Login to your existing user account. To register for a new user account with your signature card, you must first delete the existing user account.

The signature cards of the issuers "VR-Bank" and "DRV Rheinland" have only been supported to a limited extent since June 2016. Logins for registered users of these cards are still possible. However, it has no longer been possible to re-register with these cards or switch certificates to these cards since June 2016.

MeinELSTER+ is an app for Android and iOS smartphones that complements the Mein ELSTER service offering.

With MeinELSTER+, you can upload all important receipts (e.g. tradesman's invoice, donation receipt, etc.) for your next income tax return to your user account at Mein ELSTER.
This means you have your receipts to hand when you need them for your income tax return and save yourself the trouble of collecting them.

You can also assign your receipts to comprehensible categories in the app and use the integrated text recognition to mark the values that are of interest for your tax return later. Once you have prepared the receipts in this way, Mein ELSTER will suggest where your receipt can be used in the tax return. The values marked in the app can then be transferred without any further typing or transposed figures.

MeinElster+ is currently available for Android and iOS smartphones in German-speaking countries.

Minimum requirements:

• Android smartphones and Tablets from Android 12
• iPhones and iPads from iOS 16

Use on Tablets is currently not recommended. However, we are already working on an optimized interface for Tablets and will make this available as an Update in the course of the year.

You also need a Mein ELSTER user account with a certificate file.

To use MeinELSTER+, the app must be installed on your smartphone and linked to your Mein ELSTER user account.

And this is how it works:

Download the MeinElster+ app for iOS or Android from the App Store.

Within the app, you will be asked to link your Mein ELSTER user account the first time you start the receipt scan. There are two options available to you here. The login option with the certificate file or login with the ElsterSecure app.

Login with certificate file:

Please log in to www.elster.de with your certificate file at the same time.

Click on "My user account" and "Link meinElster+" to call up a QR code. Now scan the QR code with MeinElster+ and enter the password for your certificate file.

Registration with ElsterSecure:

(This login option assumes that you have already installed the ElsterSecure app on your mobile device and linked it to a user account).

By clicking on "ElsterSecure" and then "Continue with ElsterSecure", you will be redirected to the selection of user accounts.

Now select the user account to which you want to upload vouchers and confirm the process.

Now you are ready for the first scan:

With the app's receipt scan function, you can photograph and collect the receipts you need for your tax return - whether it's a tradesman's invoice, receipt or donation receipt.

After saving your document, select the values that could be of interest later for your tax return: These are usually individual items or total amounts. In the categorization, you then add information on the person, assessment year or category to the documents and upload the documents to your Mein ELSTER user account.

You can find the uploaded receipts in Mein ELSTER under "My receipts".

To meet the high security requirements of ELSTER, MeinELSTER+ access keys are protected by the smartphone's security mechanism. The keys are closely linked to the method selected to unlock your device.

As a result, the access keys cannot be stored securely enough on a device without a screen lock and it is therefore unfortunately not possible to use the app in these cases.

ELSTER generally recommends that you do not operate your device without a screen lock.

Please remember to upload all your receipts to your Mein ELSTER receipt memory before changing devices, as these may not be saved in the backup of your device.

The integrated text recognition depends on the quality of the photographed document and the exposure situation.

Tips:

• Activate the camera light during recording.
• Make sure that the recording is not blurred.
• Make sure that the edges for aligning the document have been recognized correctly or correct them. Rotate the document if necessary.
• You will get the best results if you smooth out the slip as required.

If this is not successful, you can correct incorrectly recognized entries in the input field next to the tick symbol.

The integrated text recognition is constantly being improved.

The pre-filled tax return is also known as the retrieval of certificates and is a free service offered by the tax administration. The aim of this electronic collection of certificates is to make it easier for you to prepare your income tax return. The tax administration collects data for you in electronic form and makes these certificates available to you. You (or a person authorized by you, e.g. your tax advisor) can thus access the information stored about you by the tax administration and use it for your income tax return if necessary.

You can request the retrieval of certificates for other persons (e.g. child, spouse) in Mein ELSTER under "Forms & services" - "Manage certificates" - "Certificates for other persons". Further information can be found in Mein ELSTER under "User groups" - "Private individuals".

You will be provided with the following electronic data and certificates that have been transmitted to the tax administration regarding your person:

• Master data stored with the tax authorities (name, address, bank details, religion)
• Income tax certificates sent by the employer
• Wage replacement benefits (e.g. unemployment benefit, sickness benefit, parental benefit)
• Notifications regarding the receipt of pension benefits
• Contributions to health and long-term care insurance
• Pension expenses (for example Riester or Rürup contracts)
• Subsidies and reimbursements from authorities / public bodies (e.g. subsidy for health insurance)
• Contributions for capital-forming benefits (VWL / VL)
• Investment income with exemption order

Receipts, receipts or invoice vouchers are not certificates and cannot be provided by the tax administration.

To use the pre-filled tax return and retrieve the certificates stored for your person, you can use both the services of the tax administration and the services of commercial software providers. You can therefore use a freely selectable Software to display the certificates stored by the tax administration for your person and transfer them to the income tax form.

As the protection of tax confidentiality also has top priority with the pre-filled tax return, only you or persons expressly authorized by you - such as your spouse or tax advisor - can retrieve the certificates. The reverse is also true: if you have been expressly authorized, you can retrieve the certificates from your partner, for example. To do this, you must submit a corresponding request in your Mein ELSTER user account or using third-party software.

If you are registered with Mein ELSTER with your identification number, submit the application to retrieve certificates for another person, such as your partner, as follows:
Under the menu item "Forms & services", please select "Manage certificates" -> "Certificates of other persons" → "Apply for retrieval authorization". Then complete the relevant fields (identification number and date of birth of the person concerned) and submit the application.

You will be provided with the data and certificates of the last 4 years that have been transmitted to the tax administration about your person.

The person for whom you wish to retrieve certificates will receive a letter by post informing them of your application. This letter also contains the so-called activation code with the note that this must be passed on to you as the applicant if you are to be authorized to retrieve the certificates. You can then use this activation code to activate the retrieval of certificates in Mein ELSTER or in the Software you use.

To activate the retrieval authorization in Mein ELSTER, select the "My retrieval authorizations" tab in your user account under Forms & services > Manage certificates > Certificates of other persons. Click on the tick symbol next to the open request in the Actions column. Enter the activation code in the following window.

If no approval is given within 90 days by entering the activation code, your application will be treated as rejected and you may have to submit a new application.

Exception:

The person for whom you wish to retrieve the certificates will not receive a letter if they are already registered with Mein ELSTER with their personal identification number. In this case, the person will be informed of your request via Mein ELSTER and can issue the authorization there directly.

You now have the option of viewing the certificates.

If you would like to use the Service, you can also transfer the certificates to your income tax return. The data can of course be changed or deleted in the return after it has been transferred. You can prepare your income tax return with Mein ELSTER or with software from commercial software providers.

You still have the obligation to check your income tax return for completeness and accuracy. The advantage of the pre-filled tax return is that you no longer have to enter the data, but only check it and add to it if necessary. This also helps to avoid errors when entering the data.

You can only see what has been transmitted to the tax authorities by your employer or your insurance company, for example. In the event of incorrect or incomplete data, please contact the relevant data provider directly.

1. The advantage of the pre-filled tax return is that you no longer have to enter the data, but only check it and add to it if necessary. This avoids errors when entering the data.
2. The data is entered in the appropriate fields in the income tax return. This prevents incorrect entries.
3. Convenient additional functions (help function, etc.) make it easier to prepare the tax return.
4. Your entries are checked for plausibility before they are submitted. This reduces the number of queries from your tax office.
5. Thanks to the non-binding tax calculation, you know in advance what refund or additional payment you can expect.
6. With the optional notification data retrieval, you can see any deviations from your declaration at a glance.

Since 29.11.2023, a retrieval code is no longer required in Mein ELSTER. If you are registered with a certificate file and use commercial tax software, you may need a so-called retrieval code to retrieve certificates and approve applications from another person. The retrieval code is ten digits long and serves as an additional security feature alongside the existing password for the certificate. The retrieval code will be sent to you by post by the tax administration if you apply separately. The retrieval code will be sent by post within a few days. In individual cases, however, it may take up to two weeks. Please do not apply for another retrieval code in the meantime, as this will invalidate the retrieval code that is already on its way to you. If you already have a retrieval code when you consent to the retrieval of certificates, it will remain valid (no new one will be created and sent to you).

The 5th incorrect entry will result in the currently valid retrieval code being blocked. You must then apply for a new retrieval code. If you lose it in any other way, you can of course apply for a new retrieval code.

You can apply for a new retrieval code after Login in Mein ELSTER under "Forms & services" - "Manage certificates".

The activation code is used to approve the application of another person if the person whose certificates you wish to retrieve has not yet registered with a tax identification number in Mein ELSTER. The activation code is sent by post to the person whose certificates you wish to retrieve. The 12-digit Code (XXXX-XXXX-XXXX) is a one-time code that is only valid for the approval of an application. After receiving the letter, the recipient can decide whether to pass the Code on to the applicant, thereby enabling them to retrieve their certificates. The activation code expires automatically if it is not passed on to the applicant and used within 90 days.

To activate the retrieval authorization, select the "My retrieval authorizations" tab in your My ELSTER user account under Forms & services > Manage certificates > Certificates of other persons. Click on the tick symbol next to the open request in the Actions column. The activation code must be entered in the following window.

If you as the applicant receive a message "Status message for authorizations: Expiry of the application deadline", then the activation code has not yet been entered by you and the authorization still needs to be activated.

The activation code must be entered in Mein ELSTER under the menu item "Forms & services" - "Manage certificates" - "Certificates and authorizations of other persons" in the "Action" column by selecting the confirm symbol. After successful activation, the applicant can retrieve the certificates of the other person.

As the protection of tax confidentiality also has top priority with the pre-filled tax return, only you or persons expressly authorized by you - such as your spouse or tax advisor - can access the data.

You transmit your data via the Internet. To protect tax confidentiality, the tax data is transmitted to the tax authorities in encrypted form.

The electronic management and transmission of powers of attorney is possible for the following types of proxy holder:

• Income tax assistance associations
• Other authorized representatives

Other proxy holders include:

• Relatives within the meaning of § 15 AO
• Domestic tax consultants and agricultural accountants who do not participate in the Chamber Proxy Database (K-VDB)
• Foreign tax advisors who do not participate in the K-VDB

The other proxy holders submit their proxies without a presumption of authorization.

The powers of attorney without presumption of authority for other authorized representatives include:

• Power of attorney according to the official sample power of attorney for members of the tax advisory professions who do not use the K-VDB of the Federal Chamber of Tax Consultants
• Power of attorney for relatives within the meaning of Section 15 AO (e.g. power of attorney of the child for the parents)
• Retrieval authorization only for data retrievals without representation/receiving authorization

In order to be able to create and transmit powers of attorney as another proxy holder, you must first register with Mein ELSTER using your personal tax IdNr. or tax number, if you have not already done so. You must then "Register as a proxy holder" (to be found after a Login in the "Forms & services" > "Manage proxies" area). You will then receive confirmation of successful registration as a proxy holder and your proxy holder ID as a message in your inbox in Mein ELSTER.

Note:
If the address of a proxy holder changes, this must also be done using the "Change proxy holder address data" function (can be found under "Manage proxies" after completing registration as a proxy holder). Adjusting the address data in the ELSTER user profile alone is not sufficient to transfer the changed address data to transmitted powers of attorney.

The current status of the permitted data retrievals can be viewed for each proxy in the "Proxy view".

• The status next to the personal identification number of the principal provides information on the status of the retrieval of certificates,
• the status next to the tax account of the principal provides information on the status of the tax account query.

The "Manage powers of attorney" function is not available if you log in with an organization user account and a certificate file. To get the "Manage authorizations" button, you can either add ElsterSecure and log in with it or switch to the security stick or signature card as a Login option as part of an access renewal.

For security reasons, the use of My ELSTER with a Browser in which Cookies are blocked is prevented.
To find out how to activate cookies in your browser, please refer to your browser's documentation or the browser manufacturer's website.
It is also possible to allow cookies only for selected websites if you only want to do this for www.elster.de for security reasons.
Note: My ELSTER only uses temporary cookies, also known as session cookies, which are automatically removed from your computer when you close your browser. These do not contain any personal data, but only the number of your current user session.

When using a Microsoft Proxy with NTLM or Windows-integrated authentication, the access protection for access with https (Port 443) to www.elster.de must be removed.
When using a Firewall, access to the Host www.elster.de, Port 443, TCP protocol must be enabled.

Under Ubuntu Linux, the log file of the Firewall (for "Uncomplicated Firewall" this is /var/log/messages) should be checked. If access to My ELSTER is blocked, you will find information here about which Firewall rule is causing the blockage.

Every electronic certificate has a validity period. The expiry of a certificate is therefore a normal process. The validity period begins when the certificate is issued. For certificate files and security sticks, the validity period begins when the final certificate is issued during step 2 of the registration process. In this case, the certificates are valid for 3 years. The validity period of a signature card usually begins when the card is produced during personalization.

If you have been notified by your tax program or by Mein ELSTER that your certificate is about to expire, please carry out a Login in Mein ELSTER. During the Logins you will receive important information about the upcoming certificate renewal. Your renewed certificate will be retrieved automatically and you can log in to Mein ELSTER as before.

Please note that you must renew your certificate before the expiry date. Otherwise, you will no longer be able to log in after this time and will not be able to renew your certificate.

If the validity period of your signature card is about to expire, you can assign a different signature card to your user account. To do this, you will need new activation data before the signature card you have been using expires, which you can request (after Logins) under "My user account" > "Change certificate". Contact the issuer of your signature card in good time to obtain a replacement card.

The following table shows the options for renewing or changing your certificate. For technical reasons, not all options can be offered.

¹ - It is not possible to renew the certificate stored on a signature card. You must purchase a new signature card to make this change. However, the issuer of your previous signature card can usually issue you a new card with a new validity period. You can also switch to a new signature card for authentication from another provider.

If you have logged in with a signature card, you can request activation data for your new certificate under "Forms & services" and "Change certificate". You will receive the activation code in your inbox in My ELSTER and the activation ID will be sent to you by e-mail. Please save the document with the activation code from the inbox to your hard disk. You will need this to complete the process in the public area. If you want to switch to a certificate file, you can complete the certificate change immediately. You can only complete the change to another signature card once you have received it. You can change the type of Logins or certificate in the public area under "My user account".

All user account settings, user details, profiles, drafts and messages in the inbox are retained.
No jobs may be in progress at the time the certificate change is carried out. Save the messages received in the inbox on your computer and only then carry out the certificate change.

If you renew your certificate, all data stored in your user account (drafts, messages in the inbox, settings, profiles) will remain unchanged.

You will be notified by My ELSTER by e-mail several weeks before your certificate expires and may also be notified by your tax program. If you use a certificate file or a security stick, you should carry out a Login to Mein ELSTER as soon as possible.

Once a certificate has expired, it is no longer possible to carry out a Login in My ELSTER with this certificate. You will initially no longer have access to your data in the private area. To be able to use My ELSTER again, you must renew your access. New activation data will be sent to you (by post and e-mail) and you will receive a new certificate after entering this data. With this new certificate, you can now log back into your user account as usual. User accounts are not automatically deleted when a certificate expires.

Please note that the tax account query and the necessary application for activation of the tax account query is only possible with a signature card. If you switch from a signature card to a certificate file, for example, these services are therefore no longer available. For details on the authorizations of the individual Login options, please refer to the section "Which registration type is right for me?".

When a certificate is renewed, no authorizations change for the certificate file and security stick. With a signature card, it is not possible to renew the stored certificate. You must purchase a new signature card and change the certificate registered with My ELSTER.

It is advisable to complete the switch as soon as possible. For technical reasons, we cannot guarantee that the activation data will be valid for longer than 30 days.

The change from a signature card to a security stick or a certificate file cannot be reversed. If you want to use a signature card again in the future, you will need to re-register. However, it is possible to switch directly from one signature card to another without re-registering.

1. save new certificate
During the certificate renewal process, you will be offered a new certificate file for Download. The generated certificate file should be saved. If you are using your Browser with the default settings, your certificate will be saved in the Download directory set in the Browsers. If a file with the same name already exists in the Download directory, the file name of the new certificate file is given a sequential number by the Browsers so as not to overwrite the existing file.

If you have set the option to manually select the storage location in the Download settings of the Browsers, a browser dialog opens and you can select the storage location yourself. The "Open" option must not be selected here.

2. move the file to a directory of your choice and note the storage location
3. Update existing copies as well
When the certificate file renewal is complete, the previous certificate file (pfx file) and its copies will no longer be functional. You must replace them with copies of your new pfx file. We strongly recommend that you make a backup copy of the new certificate file and keep it in a safe place.

If you click on the "Renew certificate" button, you will be offered the renewed certificate as a new pfx file for Download after entering your password. You should then log in immediately with the renewed certificate.
If, contrary to expectations, errors occur after clicking on the "Renew certificate" button, this is no cause for concern. In any case, you can either log in with your previous pfx file or with the already updated pfx file. Try the updated pfx file first. If this fails, use your previous pfx file and start the renewal process again.

The help area on the right-hand side of the My ELSTER start page shows how long the certificate you have logged in with is still valid. If this date is more than two years in the future, the renewed certificate has been successfully imported.

The keys of your certificate are not changed by importing the renewed certificate. You can continue to read all data that was encrypted with the old certificate and open the saved drafts.

There are currently three ways to register with Mein ELSTER. These differ according to the device or medium used to register the user. Authentication is performed at Login:

• Login with certificate file
• Login with security stick (interesting e.g. for entrepreneurs)
• Login with signature card (interesting e.g. for tax consultants)

Technical information on the individual processes can be found at Data security/security technology.

You should first check which tax processes you would like to process with Mein ELSTER before deciding on a Login option. You can find more information on the tax processes offered under "Forms/Services".
The technical equipment of your computer is also crucial. You need the following for

• Certificate file: no additional Hardware

• Security stick: a security stick (Online-Shop) and USB connection

• Signature card: a supported signature card and a card reader

Technical information on the individual processes can be found at Data security and IT security.

Once you have registered, you can use the valid certificate to submit tax returns for yourself and other people (e.g. spouses/partners) and use other Mein ELSTER services. Even if you have to submit different tax returns (e.g. VAT return and income tax return), one registration is sufficient.

This type of registration is recommended for the following applications:

• You would like to submit tax returns and declarations for yourself (and your spouse / partner, if applicable)
• You would like to retrieve your personal income tax deduction details
• You operate a photovoltaic system

You will need your personal tax identification number during the registration process.

This type of registration is recommended for the following applications:

• You would like to submit tax returns and registrations for a company or organization (e.g. GbR, OHG, GmbH, association)
• You are a sole trader or solo self-employed and would like to apply for tax relief or "corona aid" for your business activities
• You would like to register / deregister / transfer employees with ELStAM or retrieve the ELStAM data of the company's employees
• You are a member of a tax advisory profession and would like to apply for authorizations to retrieve certificates for more than 20 people (not possible with the "Certificate file" Login option)

In the further course of registration, you will need the tax number under which the company is registered with the tax office.

Information on the electronic income tax card (ELStAM) is not supported for identification with a tax number.

When registering with a personal identification number, authorizations can only be obtained for a maximum of 20 other persons or companies when participating in the pre-filled tax return. This restriction does not apply to registration with an organizational tax number.
Please note: Registration with a personal tax number does not entitle you to participate in the pre-filled tax return. Private individuals must register with their personal identification number.

Follow the link in the e-mail in which you received the activation ID. If you have only noted the activation ID and then deleted the e-mail, you can use the following links:

Registration "For me":

• Certificate file
• Security stick
• Signature card

Registration "For an organization":

• Certificate file
• Security stick
• Signature card

For legal reasons, registration is only possible once you have reached the age of 18.

The Download function of the Browsers is used to save the certificate file. Your certificate file is saved in the Browsers download directory in a file with the extension .pfx or .PFX. The default setting for the download directory for most Browsers is the "Downloads" subdirectory of the home directory (e.g. C:\users\<user ID> under Windows). However, you can change the setting for the download directory of your Browsers in the Browser settings.
If you cannot find the certificate file in the Download directory, please carry out step 2 of the registration process again. If you are using the Internet Explorer browser, please make sure to explicitly save the certificate file by clicking on "Save" after the key generation when the browser displays the message "Do you want to open or save from "www.elster.de"?". If you have previously clicked on "Open" or "Cancel", please repeat step 2 of the registration process and click on "Save" after the key has been generated.

There is no need to send the activation ID by e-mail or the activation Code by post. You no longer have to wait several days for the activation Code to be sent and you will receive a user account within a few minutes.

Login with an ID card requires that the Online ID function is activated and that you have replaced the associated activation PIN (transport PIN) with a PIN you have assigned yourself. Only then will your ID card be activated. You will also need a suitable ID card reader and a certified driver. Further details on the ID card can be found on the website http://www.personalausweisportal.de.
Note on activation: Unfortunately, it is not possible to activate your ID card in My ELSTER. Please contact the authority responsible for you (municipality or district administration department).
You can also activate your ID card using the AusweisApp. You can find more information about the AusweisApp at https://www.ausweisapp.bund.de.

Yes, it is now possible to use your ID card for Login. No additional certificate file is required.

When using the ID card, the PIN can be entered incorrectly twice in succession. If it is necessary to enter the PIN a third time, it must be activated by entering the access number (CAN) first. The access number (CAN) is printed on the front of the new ID card to the right of the validity date.

When Login with an ID card, the Online ID function is blocked if the eID PIN has been entered incorrectly three times in a row. To unblock the online ID function again, you will need your PUK, which Bundesdruckerei has sent you by post. Please note that it is unfortunately not possible to unblock the function using the PUK in My ELSTER. Please contact the authority responsible for you (municipality or district administration department). You can also use the AusweisApp to reactivate your ID card using the PUK. You can find further information on the AusweisApp at https://www.ausweisapp.bund.de.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to change the eID PIN of your ID card in My ELSTER. To do this, please contact the authority responsible for you (municipality or district administration department). You can also change the eID PIN of your ID card using the AusweisApp. You can find more information about the AusweisApp at https://www.ausweisapp.bund.de.

Yes, my ELSTER supports the electronic residence permit (eAufenthaltstitel).
Further information on the electronic residence permit can be found at http://www.bamf.de/DE/Willkommen/Aufenthalt/eAufenthaltstitel/e-aufenthaltstitel-node.html.

A certificate for an organization is required for electronic authentication. This must be acquired in the course of registration with Mein ELSTER or, in the case of selected signature cards, registered with Mein ELSTER. A valid domestic classification criterion is mandatory for registration.
Persons, companies, communities or institutions that do not have a valid domestic classification criterion can apply for this classification criterion in the form of a tax number from the Neubrandenburg - RAB tax office.

The Neubrandenburg - RAB tax office is responsible for all applications for the allocation of a missing classification criterion for the purpose of registration with Mein ELSTER.

One example is mentioned here:

• Agents working abroad on behalf of domestic taxpayers (e.g. foreign tax consultants) or foreign owners of a property located in Germany who wish to transmit data in an authenticated manner but do not have a domestic tax number.
  
  
• Domestic authorities who wish to transmit authenticated data but do not have a domestic tax number.
  
  
• Communities of owners that do not have a domestic tax number but must transmit data to the SV-Meldeportal.

Fill in the application form below and send it to the Neubrandenburg tax office - RAB. Application for the issue of an order criterion
You will then receive a letter from the Neubrandenburg - RAB tax office informing you of the classification criterion (tax number). You can then use this to register for an organization certificate in Mein ELSTER. The number is used exclusively for registration purposes.
Data transmissions to the tax office must always be made to the taxpayer's tax number. No tax or tax law checks are carried out when the classification criterion is assigned. Please clarify this with the responsible tax office.

Note: The Neubrandenburg - RAB tax office is located in the federal state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Therefore, "Mecklenburg-Vorpommern" must be selected as the state when registering in Mein ELSTER.

Once you have completed the Upgrade of your user account, you can use the valid certificate to submit tax returns for yourself and other persons (e.g. spouses/partners) and use other My ELSTER services. This identification is also sufficient if you have to submit different tax returns (e.g. VAT return and income tax return).

This type of identification is recommended for the following applications:

• You would like to submit tax returns and declarations for yourself (and your spouse / partner, if applicable)
• You would like to retrieve your personal income tax deduction details
• You operate a photovoltaic system

You will need your personal tax identification number in the further course of the Upgrade.

This type of identification is recommended for the following applications:

• You would like to submit tax returns and registrations for a company (e.g. GbR, OHG, GmbH, association)
• You are a sole trader or solo self-employed and would like to apply for tax relief or "corona aid" for your business activities
• You would like to register / deregister / transfer employees with ELStAM or retrieve the ELStAM data of company employees
• You are a member of a tax advisory profession and would like to apply for authorizations to retrieve certificates for more than 20 people (not possible with the "Certificate file" Login option)

In the further course of the Upgrade, you will need the tax number under which the company is registered with the tax office.

Information on the electronic income tax card (ELStAM) is not supported for identification with a tax number.

The IAA-Plus can only be accessed via the Customs portal be transmitted electronically. Electronic transmission via the ELSTER portal is not possible.

In connection with the introduction of ATLAS Export (Release 2.0), it has been possible since May 4, 2009 to complete export declarations online on the Internet and submit them with an electronic certificate if the export shipment is declared at a German customs office of export.
The customs administration uses the ELSTER certificate, which is already accepted by all federal states for paperless tax declarations, and thus makes it possible to dispense with the signature. With the electronic certificate, customs offices can determine the origin of incoming export declarations and at the same time transmit all customs decisions on the transfer of goods to the export procedure back to the sender. This means that, for the first time, economic operators can process all essential simplifications completely paperless via the Internet. It is no longer necessary to submit a hand-signed export declaration to the customs office of export. Replies from the customs office of export will be sent to the trader.

Customs also offers the option of assigning a personal tax number via a personal ELSTER certificate to the customs number of the respective organization. This means that an organization that cannot provide authorization data (€0.00 values) can be "represented" by dedicated employees with a personal ELSTER certificate and the personal tax number.
This must be applied for and recorded using the following customs form:
0870 Participant master data, address entry and notification .
The tax number with which the ELSTER certificate was applied for must be entered in field 22.
This fulfills the prerequisite for using IAA-Plus and the required condition that the tax number on which the ELSTER certificate is based must be stored in the customs master data in order to establish a connection between the IAA-Plus user and the certificate holder.

If you have technical questions about the IAA-Plus or problems using it, please contact the Service Desk at the Information Technology Center.

• Phone: 0800/800-75451
• E-mail: servicedesk@itzbund.de
  
  

After Login in My ELSTER, click on "My ELSTER" on the left-hand side and then on "My forms".
In the "Submitted forms" tab, select the property tax return that has been successfully submitted.
In the "Actions" column, click on the three dots.
Now select "Transfer this data to new form".
Then click on "Next" and "Start data entry".

You can then correct the relevant data.

Once the plausibility check has been successfully completed, you can submit the form to the tax office.