Steuerbot

Steuerbot guides users through preparing and digitally submitting an income tax return to the tax office. Its chat uses straightforward questions and can provide additional explanations; a pre-filled return automatically enters important tax data for the user to review and confirm. Calculating a refund is free, while submitting a return costs €39.99, paid once. A pay-later option is also listed as an individual offer, with fees due after the tax refund is received. Steuerbot supports employees, civil servants, retirees, and trainees preparing returns, as well as students and school-based trainees filing loss carryforwards. It supports investment and rental income, but not income from a trade, self-employment, or agriculture and forestry. Apps are available for iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows, alongside a browser-based web app. The provider says tax data is sent through the official ELSTER interface, its servers are in Germany, and data is retained for five years after submission for tax office questions. It also says data is transferred over encrypted HTTPS/SSL connections and that support replies within 24 hours.

Steuerbot separates free refund calculation from paid return submission and offers chat guidance across web, desktop, and mobile platforms. Check that your income types are supported before using it to prepare a return.

Steuerbot suits employees, civil servants, retirees, and trainees preparing income tax returns, as well as students and school-based trainees filing loss carryforwards. It does not support returns involving self-employment, trade, or agriculture and forestry income.

Overview

Steuerbot is German tax-preparation software that guides users through an income-tax return in a chat. It is best suited to employees, civil servants, retirees and trainees with supported income; self-employed users should choose another service.

Free refund calculation lets users estimate a potential refund before deciding whether to pay for submission. The main constraint is eligibility: the app excludes self-employment and several business and agricultural income types.

Key features

Guided preparation

Steuerbot uses simple questions and offers further explanations when needed. That makes it a fit for people who prefer prompts to navigating tax forms alone, but a conversational interface cannot compensate for an income type the service does not support.

Pre-filled tax data and support

A pre-filled return brings important tax data into the case for the user to confirm, reducing manual entry without removing the need to check the result. Users can contact support through the app; Steuerbot says trained tax experts respond within 24 hours.

Data handling

Steuerbot says it follows GDPR, encrypts transfers with HTTPS/SSL and sends tax data through the official ELSTER interface. It says its servers are in Germany and that submitted data is retained for five years to address possible tax-office questions. Those are meaningful safeguards and retention terms to weigh when choosing a service for sensitive financial information.

Pricing

Steuerbot separates working out a refund from filing the return. Refund calculation is always free, so users can assess a possible refund without committing to submission. Filing costs €39.99 once, payable after calculation if the user chooses to submit; it is not an annual subscription.

The Pay later option charges after the user receives a refund from the tax office, with an individual offer. Its price is custom pricing, so users who want a known upfront filing cost should prefer the €39.99 one-time submission plan. Neither option changes the app's eligibility limits.

Platforms

Steuerbot offers apps for Android, iOS, macOS and Windows, plus a browser-based web app. That range suits users who want to prepare on a phone or computer and gives flexibility to switch between mobile and desktop access.

Who it's for

The service names employees, civil servants, retirees and trainees as users for tax returns, and students and school-based trainees for loss carryforwards. It supports investment and rental income, but not income from self-employment, a trade, or agriculture and forestry. Users with those unsupported income types should not rely on Steuerbot to cover their return.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Free refund calculation lets users estimate before paying to file.
• Pros: Chat prompts, pre-filled tax data and in-app expert support offer several forms of guidance during preparation.
• Pros: Android, iOS, desktop apps and browser access give users multiple ways to work on a return.
• Cons: The €39.99 filing fee applies if users decide to submit; only calculation is free.
• Cons: Self-employed users and people with trade, agricultural or forestry income fall outside the supported cases.
• Cons: Pay later uses an individual offer, so it does not provide a predictable published price.

Alternatives

For a German tax app with a free test version and payment only when submitting, consider WISO Steuer. Taxfix is another option for readers comparing a paid service with a free-until-submission plan. Readers considering other tax-preparation software can browse Tax Preparation Software or Personal Tax Software.

Verdict

Steuerbot is a sensible choice for employees, retirees, civil servants and trainees with supported income who want guided preparation and a free way to calculate a refund before filing. Its €39.99 one-time submission price is clear, but users with unsupported self-employment or business income should look elsewhere.