Getting Your Tax ID (Steuerliche Identifikationsnummer)
Your German tax ID (IdNr) is an 11-digit number automatically assigned after your Anmeldung. You need it for employment, tax refunds, and pension contributions.
Tax ID vs. Tax Number — these are not the same thing
A Steuer-ID (this guide) is issued automatically and never changes. A Steuernummer is a different number your local Finanzamt issues only once something triggers it — usually registering as freelance/self-employed — and it changes if you move to a different Finanzamt’s jurisdiction. Most newcomers only ever need the first one.
| Feature | Tax ID (IdNr) | Tax Number (Steuernummer) |
|---|---|---|
| German name | Steuerliche Identifikationsnummer (IdNr) | Steuernummer |
| Format | 11 digits, no formatting | 10–13 digits, formatted like 12/345/67890 (format varies by state) |
| Issued by | Bundeszentralamt für Steuern (BZSt) — federal, automatic | Your local Finanzamt — on request or when you first need one |
| When you get it | Automatically, a few weeks after your Anmeldung | Only when something triggers it — e.g. registering as freelance/self-employed (Gewerbeanmeldung or Freiberufler registration) or filing your first tax return |
| Does it change? | No — issued once, kept for life, even if you move cities | Yes — a new Finanzamt issues a new Steuernummer if you move to a different jurisdiction |
| What it's for | Payroll (your employer needs it), tax returns, Kindergeld, pension records | Invoicing as a freelancer/business, correspondence with your specific Finanzamt |
Structural facts (format, issuing authority), not a verbatim BZSt quote — this session couldn't re-fetch bzst.de to requote current wording (network access was unavailable). Confirm details for your specific situation at bzst.de or idnr.de.
Didn’t get the letter yet? Here’s where else to find it
The Tax ID letter itself isn’t the only place the number lives — and BZSt’s own guidance gives a longer grace period than the 4-week check above suggests.
It's already on documents you may have
If you've been employed, your Tax ID is printed on your Lohnsteuerbescheinigung (annual wage statement) or any payslip your employer has issued. If you've filed a return, it's on your Steuerbescheid (tax assessment). Check those before requesting a replacement.
Ask your employer or Steuerberater
Your employer's payroll department already has your Tax ID on file (they need it to run payroll). If you use a Steuerberater (tax advisor), they'll have it too — often faster than a postal request.
Visit your local Finanzamt in person
You can go to your local Finanzamt with your passport and ask for your Tax ID directly — no appointment needed for this specific request, unlike most Finanzamt business.
Request a replacement letter online
The guide's own step above: request it again at idnr.de. BZSt's own published guidance says to contact them if you still haven't received it within three months of registering, a longer window than the 4-week check the earlier step in this guide suggests, so don't be alarmed if a re-request takes a few weeks to arrive.
Read from BZSt's own FAQ and a secondary walkthrough (allaboutberlin.com) via WebSearch, not fetched directly from bzst.de this session (network access was unavailable) — confirm current guidance at bzst.de before relying on the three-month figure specifically.
Wondering what the letter itself actually looks like, or what other official mail to expect around the same time? See what does this German letter mean.