The objection is the most accessible legal remedy against the authority: free, no lawyer, a simple letter or via ELSTER. The whole difficulty is one thing: meeting the month from receipt. You can file briefly and submit the full reasoning with receipts later; what matters is not missing the deadline with the objection itself.
Tax Assessment: Filing the Objection
An objection is a free, simple challenge. The deadline is hard: 1 month from receipt of the assessment. A letter or electronic filing via ELSTER suffices, stating what and why you disagree with.
✓ Verified: 18/07/2026
WHAT TO DO
AUTHORITY
Finanzamt
Federal agencyThe BZSt is the federal body; your personal tax matters go to the Finanzamt for your registered address.
› Details and tips
👨🏻💻
Max recommends:
I filed the objection via ELSTER the same evening the assessment arrived — one line, the reasoning a week later with receipts. Electronic filing gave immediate confirmation: deadline safely met.
👩🏼💼
Lea recommends:
By letter only with proof of sending (registered or fax with report). The dispute over whether it arrived in time goes against whoever cannot show the date. ELSTER removes that risk.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What does an objection cost? ▾
Nothing: filing an objection with the tax office is free and no lawyer is needed. That fundamentally distinguishes it from court. So a justified objection almost always pays off — you only risk 20 minutes.
Must the reasoning be detailed at once? ▾
No: file the objection briefly within the deadline and submit the reasoning later. The key is to meet the month with the objection itself; details and evidence follow separately.
How to file via ELSTER? ▾
The ELSTER account has a function for an electronic objection to a specific assessment — faster and with a receipt confirmation. By letter is fine too; then send with proof of the date.