Thousands of students in Germany simply leave money with the tax office every year, because nobody told them they could get it back. If you did any paid work, this is worth twenty minutes of your time and is often a refund of a few hundred euros.
The two kinds of student work, and their tax
Mini-job
Up to €556/month (2025), rising to €603/month (2026), roughly €7,236 a year. This is effectively tax-free, so there is usually nothing to reclaim from a mini-job alone.
Werkstudent (working student)
Up to 20 hours a week in term, with reduced social-security contributions. Here wage tax can be withheld via your tax class. If your total yearly income still sits under the allowance, that withheld tax is yours to reclaim. See student jobs and Werkstudent roles.
What you need
- Your Steuer-ID (tax identification number), which arrives by post after your Anmeldung.
- Your Lohnsteuerbescheinigung (annual pay/tax statement from your employer).
- A free ELSTER account (the official online tax portal). Registration takes a few days because they post you an activation code.
What you can deduct (to boost your refund)
- Relocation costs to Germany and study materials (laptop, books).
- Semester contributions and a German language course.
- Your commute to work or university.
- Application and exam costs, and a second household if you kept one.
FAQ
Do students have to file taxes in Germany?
Usually not required if you only had a mini-job. But if tax was withheld from a Werkstudent salary and your income is under the allowance, filing a voluntary return gets that money back.
How much can I get back?
It varies, but a refund of a few hundred euros is common for working students who had wage tax withheld.
How do I file for free?
Through ELSTER, the official online portal. You need your Steuer-ID and your employer's annual tax statement.
How far back can I claim?
Up to four years for a voluntary return, so you can still file older years you missed.
Sorting out work and money in Germany? Ask a mentor for ₹500 → who has filed their own.
