Adressänderung: Updating Your Address
After the Anmeldung, update your address with your employer, bank, health insurer, and Finanzamt.
WHAT TO DO
What is it and when to do it?
After your Anmeldung, your new address appears only in the residents’ register. Every other organisation must be notified by you, personally. Collect your Meldebescheinigung at the Bürgeramt — it serves as official proof of your new address and is required by your bank and insurer.
Where and how much does it cost?
Updating your address is free in most cases. Bank and Krankenkasse: via your online account or by letter. Finanzamt: through the ELSTER portal (elster.de) — no appointment needed. Employer: a simple letter to HR.
Common mistakes
Forgot to inform the Finanzamt. A year later received a Steuervorauszahlung (advance tax payment demand) — the letter had gone to the old address and the deadline had passed. Had to pay a Säumniszuschlag (late payment surcharge). Finanzamt is the top priority after your bank.
Updated my bank address online but forgot about my insurance. The policy renewal arrived at the old address; the new tenants threw it away. When I had a claim, questions were raised about my 'current address'. Make a list of all your contracts in advance and update them systematically.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Which organisations do I need to notify myself? ▾
The Einwohnermeldeamt only updates the official residents' register. Everyone else you notify yourself: employer, bank, all insurers, Krankenkasse (health insurer), Deutsche Rentenversicherung (pension), Finanzamt, ELSTER (tax portal), pension funds, subscriptions and online shops.
Is there a penalty for not updating my address with the Finanzamt? ▾
No direct fine, but all letters and tax notices are considered legally served at the address the Finanzamt has on file. If you miss a deadline to appeal a tax decision because the letter went to your old address, you lose your right to contest it. Update via ELSTER or by letter immediately after your Anmeldung.
What order should I update my address in? ▾
First: Anmeldung → collect Meldebescheinigung. Then with that document: bank (needed for KYC/identity verification), employer, Krankenkasse. In parallel: insurers, subscriptions, online shops. Finanzamt: via ELSTER online — no appointment, no queues.