New function
That changes in the tax return
Updated on March 27, 2025 – 3:35 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
If you complete your tax return via Elster, you can digitally store documents in the future when filling it out. This saves time – and avoids questions from the tax office.
The tax return becomes more digital – and much more comfortable for many people: With the new “RABE” procedure (short for “reference to documents”), taxpayers can in future upload their evidence directly when creating the income tax return in “Mein ELSTER” or via other compatible software.
In many cases, the subsequent submission by post or via a separate upload portal does not apply if the tax offices should have any inquiries about the entries. If necessary, the authorities can simply call up the stored evidence with one click. This should also shorten the processing time.
The new function is already available in all Hamburg tax offices – for the current tax return 2024 and for the assessment period 2023. Hamburg Had tested the procedure with Bavaria at the end of 2024 and the pilot phase has now completed. By the end of 2025, all tax offices in Germany should be able to use “raven”.
Before you can make your tax return at Elster yourself, you have to register. For this you need your tax identification number (tax ID). Here you can find out where you can find them.
The online finance office also asks you for personal data such as email address and date of birth. You will then receive an activation ID by email and an activation code by post. The letter goes to the address under which you are currently registered.
With the data you can then create and download a certificate file. You need this to log in to “Mein Elster” later. Alternatively, you can also register with your ID card, provided that the online ID card function is activated.
